Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker slammed President Donald Trump as a “cheater” and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as a “joke” days after welcoming Texas Democrats who fled their state in protest of GOP-led redistricting efforts.
“Governor Abbott is the joke,” Pritzker, a Democrat, informed NBC Information’ “Meet the Press” in an interview that aired Sunday in response to Abbott calling Illinois’ congressional map a “joke.”
“He is the one who’s making an attempt mid-decade right here — at a time when, frankly, all of us are involved about the way forward for democracy. He is actually serving to whittle it away and licking the boots of his chief, Donald Trump,” Pritzker added.
Pritzker additionally defended himself in opposition to allegations that Illinois’ congressional map is gerrymandered. Trump received 44% of the statewide vote in 2024 however Republicans maintain solely three of the state’s 17 Home districts.
“We held public hearings, legislative hearings. Individuals attended them. They spoke out. There was a map that was put out. There have been really modifications made to the map. And a map was handed, and it was achieved on the finish of the census, the decennial census. In order that’s the way it’s achieved on this nation,” Pritzker stated.
He went on to say, “That is — it is dishonest. Donald Trump is a cheater. He cheats on his wives, he cheats at golf, and now he is attempting to cheat the American individuals out of their votes.”
Democratic state legislators from Texas have been huddling in Illinois and different blue states after leaving the state to disclaim GOP leaders a quorum within the state Home. Republicans have repeatedly tried to maneuver ahead with their legislative plans, however have fallen in need of the 100 individuals obligatory for a quorum.
Abbott and his Republican allies late final month unveiled plans to attract new congressional district strains within the state that would assure their occasion as much as 5 extra secure Republican seats in Congress. The method of redrawing district strains historically occurs solely as soon as a decade, after the decennial census is carried out.
Abbott has clashed with Democrats within the legislature up to now and GOP leaders in Texas have threatened the Democratic legislators with suspension of pay and civil arrests in the event that they don’t return to the statehouse.
“Democrats act like they’re not going to return again so long as this is a matter. Which means they’re not going to return again till like 2027 or 2028, as a result of I’m going to name particular session after particular session after particular session with the identical agenda gadgets on there,” Abbott informed NBC Information in an interview Thursday.
Trump has defended Abbott and Texas Republicans’ efforts to attract new maps that favor the GOP, telling CNBC’s Squawk Field, “We’ve a chance in Texas to choose up 5 seats. We’ve a very good governor, and we now have good individuals in Texas. And I received Texas.”
“I bought the very best vote within the historical past of Texas, as you in all probability know, and we’re entitled to 5 extra seats,” he added.
On Sunday, former Lawyer Common Eric Holder, who has fought gerrymandered state congressional maps as the top of Nationwide Democratic Redistricting Committee, additionally spoke to “Meet the Press” about Texas’ redistricting plan and California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal for his state to reply in type.
“What I’ve stated is that we now have to guard our democracy now if we in the end need to have the ability to put it aside,” Holder stated Sunday. “And so taking the cheap steps which were proposed in in California, I feel it makes an excessive amount of sense on this second, a brief approach wherein to reply to that which is occurring in Texas, with the thought that after this disaster has handed, we get again to the battle in opposition to gerrymandering by anyone.”
Holder careworn his opinion that any forthcoming Democratic gerrymandering must be a response to Texas, not a everlasting approach to attract district strains.
“If Texas had not moved in the way in which that they seem like doing, California would wouldn’t be doing what they’re doing,” Holder stated. “What Democrats are doing is is responsive and is short-term.”
Through the “Meet the Press” interview, Pritzker additionally responded to reviews that the FBI granted a request from Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who’s working for re-election in 2026, to assist observe down the Democratic state legislators who fled Texas.
“There is no federal legislation that might permit the FBI to arrest anyone that is right here visiting our state,” Pritzker stated. “So it is plenty of grandstanding. That is what that is all about.”
Pritzger was additionally requested concerning the struggle in Gaza and a Senate decision this week to dam arms gross sales to Israel amid the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
“I feel that the decision that was put up in the US Senate was an effort to ship a message. And it’s the proper of a message, which is that Israel must guarantee that the meals help that should go to harmless Palestinians ought to arrive there,” he stated. “And they need to do every little thing of their energy to forestall the hunger that I feel we’ve all seen.”
