GOP Rep. Slams House Speaker Johnson Over Texas Redistricting Backlash: 'Step Up And Show Some Leadership'

A Republican lawmaker slammed House Speaker Mike Johnson for not taking a stand against Texas' redistricting push, which could spark retaliation from Democrats elsewhere.

Concretely, California Rep. Kevin Kiley said the move is "not something that is popular among members of our conference," calling on Johnson to "step up and show some leadership" on the matter.

Kiley is not the only Republican to publicly voice his discontent. New York Reps. Mike Lawler and Nicole Malliotakis made similar statements, with the former saying he doesn't thing "Texas should do it" and the later claiming "it should not be done." "I don't care if it's the Republicans or the Democrats that are doing it," Malliotakis said.

They all represent states where Democratic governors are threatening to conduct their own redistricting if the Greg Abbott administration moves forward. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Monday that the redistricting initiative mean that Republicans and Democrats are "at war."

"We are following the rules. We do redistricting every 10 years, but if there are other states that are violating the rules and trying to give themselves an advantage, all I say is I'll look at it closely with Hakeem Jeffries," she added this week. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, on his end, said his administration "won't sit back and watch this happen."

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered on Monday the arrest of Democratic lawmakers who left the state to prevent Republicans from having quorum to pass the initiative. State House lawmakers passed a motion allowing the Speaker of the House to issue civil warrants for the arrest of those who did not attend the session.

The order directs the state's Department of Public Safety to "locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans."

Abbott also said Democrats' threats are a "bunch of crazy bluster." "Democrats are freaking out because they are realizing Texas has the authority to redistrict and we'll do so in a way that's going to lead to these additional seats that will vote Republican and they will be serving in Congress in the next session. Democrats are engaging in rhetoric but I don't think they have the capability of living up to it and doing anything about it," he added.