New York Governor Kathy Hochul has published an op-ed in the Houston Chronicle, addressing the ongoing redistricting dispute in Texas. In her piece, Hochul describes her concerns about actions by Texas Republicans to redraw congressional maps mid-decade, a move she characterizes as a threat to democratic norms.
“Up until now, Democrats have treated our political system like it’s still governed by norms, guarded by limits and rooted in fairness. Rules were meant to be followed. It hurts to say it, but that era has come to an end. Since Donald Trump’s rise, Republicans have declared war on the American people. They slashed health care, gutted nutrition programs and stacked the Supreme Court to rip away freedoms we once took for granted. And now, they’re trying to rig the rules of democracy itself,” Hochul wrote.
She alleges that “At President Trump’s direction, Texas state House Republicans are attempting to redraw their congressional maps mid-decade, an aggressive power grab designed to flip as many as five current Democratic seats. They’ve carved up diverse communities in Houston, Dallas and along the border to silence the voters who live there.”
Hochul criticizes these efforts as undermining democratic representation: “What Texas is doing isn’t a clever strategy, it’s political arson — torching our democracy to cling to power. The only viable recourse is to fight fire with fire. This isn’t just a Texas issue. When Republicans rig congressional maps in one state, it weakens representation in every state. Every unfair seat they create tilts Congress further out of balance. If they get away with it now, 2026 will be the first of many stolen elections.”
She emphasizes her willingness as New York’s governor not to remain passive: “I may be governor of New York, but I will not sit on the sidelines with timid souls and merely watch while Republicans dismantle democracy. That’s not who we are. And that is certainly not the leadership that this moment calls for.”
Hochul also referenced her recent meeting with Texas House Democrats: “That’s why I was proud to host Texas House Democrats this week. These public servants left the state to follow a legitimate and legal tactic to deny Republicans a quorum and stop this scheme in its tracks. As John Lewis said, sometimes you have to get into good trouble. That’s what they’re doing — and they’re not alone.”
She described hosting delegation members at both the New York State Capitol and governor’s residence: “Before our meeting in the New York State Capitol, I invited the delegation members to the governor’s residence, a home once occupied by former Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I wanted them to draw strength from his example. He led this nation through some of its darkest days. Like FDR, we know who we’re fighting for and who we’re fighting against.”
The op-ed connects these events with broader principles: “Because this fight isn’t about maps. It’s about values. Fairness. Freedom. Representation. The very essence of our republic.”
Hochul cited legislative actions taken in New York aimed at expanding voting access: “In New York, we’ve shown what’s possible when you expand access to the ballot instead of suppressing it. I signed the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act in 2022, the strongest law of its kind in the nation.” She continued: “I expanded voter registration and implemented early voting by mail.” According to Hochul: “When Democrats lead, democracy gets stronger.”
She noted coordination efforts among Democratic leaders nationwide: “But we can’t do it alone. That’s why I’m in close touch with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and others working on how states can coordinate legal, legislative and constitutional strategies to fight back.” She added that officials are considering options regarding redistricting within New York itself.
“Some will say this is too aggressive,” Hochul wrote; “I say it’s necessary.”
“What Texas Republicans are doing under Trump’s direction is nothing short of a legal insurrection on our Capitol,” she stated further.
Hochul closed her commentary urging national engagement on these issues: “If you refuse to fight for democracy, you’re doomed to lose it… To every Texan standing up to Trump and Abbott’s scheme, you’re on the right side of history… To the rest of America, don’t be afraid to join this fight…”
Kathy Hochul serves as New York’s 57th governor and is its first female chief executive.
