Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey slammed redistricting efforts in Texas during a news conference after meeting with several Texas state legislators in Boston today.
“This is, to be really clear about it, a partisan, craven political power grab attempt by the President of the United States, Governor Greg Abbott and [Texas Attorney General Ken] AG Paxton,” Healey said. “That’s what this is, quite simple, and it’s done to further an agenda that’s about protecting them and their power and the president’s perception of power.”
The meeting comes after the Texas House of Representatives failed to reach quorum for the second day in a row due to absences among Democratic lawmakers protesting the GOP redistricting plans.
Surrounded by a mix of Texas state senators and representatives and joined by Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin, Healey emphasized her support for the lawmakers’ efforts and answered questions about Massachusetts’ own maps, which were last redrawn in 2021.
When asked if the Commonwealth would participate in its own redistricting to retaliate, Healy demurred, saying the current maps in the state were fair, but that efforts like that of the Texas GOP had left blue states “no choice.”
“Isn’t it a sad state of affairs that that’s where we’re at, OK? And you know, Donald Trump, Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton, have left us no choice. That’s the reality. Nobody came looking for this, right? We had a system of free and fair elections. We have maps that are regularly drawn, voted on by legislatures, approved and signed off on by governors. This is the way the system works, until this, until this comes in, and so, you know, they’ve left us no choice. It’s not where anyone wants to be.”
Healey later pointedly added, “The Massachusetts maps, in my view, are fair. They were drawn after a robust process and signed into law by Republican Governor Charlie Baker.”