'Putting words in my mouth!' TX Republican clashes as CNN host grills him on redistricting
CNN's Boris Sanchez went toe-to-toe with Texas state lawmaker Brian Harrison (R) on Monday over the issue of gerrymandering in his state.
Democratic lawmakers fled the state in droves over the weekend to protest new redistricting proposals that would give Republicans as many as five more congressional seats. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is demanding that they return to the statehouse by 3 p.m. CDT for a vote.
Illinois Gov. Pritzker is hosting several of the lawmakers in his state, and Harrison called him out, while also slamming CNN.
"Let's talk about this hypocrisy here!" Harrison began. "I mean, Illinois and California have been much more aggressive on redistricting than even the new maps that Texas is contemplating. These are very inconvenient facts. I mean, CNN — why don't you have on your chyron right now? Every time you play Governor Pritzker, why don't you point out that Illinois, under his leadership, 45% of the vote goes to Republicans in Illinois. but the Governor, Pritzker, only gives Republicans 15% of the congressional delegation?"
Sanchez attempted a follow-up question about whether Harrison supported a federal law to prohibit gerrymandering, but the two ended up talking over each other.
"Sir, let me ask the question!" Sanchez protested. "Why not quit the gerrymandering altogether and put the power in the hands of voters to make the Republic more efficient?"
Harrison claimed that "this type of redistricting" is perfectly legal and that he was going to do everything in his power to ensure Republicans hold their majority in Congress.
"So, then, is your objection against Pritzker or Newsom doing the same thing purely that it doesn't advantage your party?" an incredulous Sanchez asked. "That's not consistent."
"No, I've never said something like that," Harrison argued. You're putting words in my mouth!"