Texas Governor Greg Abbott faces mounting pressure from Democrats for delaying the call for a special election to replace the late Representative Sylvester Turner, who died on March 5, 2025. As of April 3, 29 days have passed without an announcement, prompting threats of legal action from top Democratic officials.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats are considering legal avenues to force a timely election. The Texas Democratic Party echoed this stance, publicly demanding Abbott either “call an emergency election or lawyer up.”
Under Texas law, the governor holds the exclusive authority to order special elections, but no specific deadline is imposed. The election code states only that a special election must be called “as soon as practicable” following a vacancy.
Abbott’s handling of past congressional vacancies has varied. When Representative Ron Wright died on February 7, 2021, Abbott announced a special election 16 days later, on February 23, with the vote held 83 days after Wright’s death, on May 1, 2021. After the death of Representative Sheila Jackson Lee on July 19, 2024, Abbott waited 14 days to call a special election on August 2, with the election scheduled for November 5, 109 days later.
With nearly a month gone since Turner’s passing, candidates and local leaders have raised alarms about the lack of representation for the district. Amanda Edwards, a candidate for the seat, criticized the delay, stressing that nearly 800,000 residents remain without a voice in Congress.
Governor Abbott’s office has not responded to inquiries about the holdup. Legal experts note that although the law is vague, extended delays without justification may trigger judicial review if challenged.
