AFSCME President Lee Saunders has criticized Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts, describing it as an effort to favor his party and restrict democratic participation. In a statement released Thursday, Saunders said:
“Greg Abbott and the anti-worker extremists in Texas’ congressional delegation know they can’t face voters after gutting health care, abandoning rural hospitals and schools, and driving up the cost of grocery and utility bills. That’s why they’re trying to rig the rules and shut working people out of the democratic process, especially working people of color, whose voices have been sidelined for far too long. Instead of being accountable to the people, they answer to billionaire donors who see our freedoms as a threat to their profits. But we won’t back down. AFSCME members, and the entire labor movement, are standing together to defend our democracy and ensure every voice is heard in the process — not just the wealthiest among us.”
Saunders’ remarks come as Texas lawmakers consider changes that would alter how congressional boundaries are drawn in the state. Critics argue that such redistricting efforts could reduce representation for certain communities.
AFSCME represents public service workers across various sectors in Texas and nationwide.
