Texas voters changed who will hold several top state offices on Tuesday. Republicans will keep control of the Texas Senate when lawmakers return to Austin in January. Democrats will take control of the Texas House. Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa and Lt. Gov.-elect Vikki Goodwin are preparing to take office.
State Rep. Brian Harrison, a Republican, has asked Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special legislative session before Hinojosa takes office. Harrison wants lawmakers to limit some of the governor's emergency powers. He pointed to a bill he previously filed that would add legislative checks on disaster declarations and emergency orders.
Scott Braddock, a longtime Texas political journalist and editor of The Quorum Report, told KPRC 2 that a special session before Abbott leaves office is "highly unlikely." Braddock said the issue starts with attendance. Lawmakers can only conduct business when enough members are present for a quorum. He said Democrats won the House but will not formally take control until the new Legislature begins.