New York Governor Kathy Hochul is voicing strong support for Texas Democrats in their ongoing battle over redistricting with Republican lawmakers, which she sees as part of a larger national fight to protect democracy.
In a recent interview on MSNBC, Hochul discussded how she personally hosted members of the Texas Democratic delegation at the governor’s residence in Albany. The lawmakers fled their state to block Republican-backed legislation they argued would undermine fair representation. Hochul said she wanted to make sure they understood their stand was not only seen but supported.
“I took them to the governor’s residence in Albany,” she said. “You know who used to live in that home? Franklin Roosevelt, Teddy Roosevelt. I wanted those individuals to know that they’re on the right side of history.”
Hochul’s is dishing out her remarks as the country is entrenched in a major conversation about the power dynamics inside the national government. Aside from the redistricting efforts currently taking place in Texas, there’s speculation that President Trump will get involved in the New York City mayoral race, and some state governors are attempting to flex their political muscles beyond their borders.
While she dismissed Trump’s interest in New York City politics as a distraction, Hochul emphasized that governors must stay focused on larger, structural issues that will determine the balance of power in Washington for years to come.
She pointed to redistricting as one of those defining issues. “Of course, we’re at the forefront. This is New York,” Hochul said. “We encourage all the other states to join our effort. I know my colleagues in California have stepped up, J.B. Pritzker in Chicago. We’re all doing what we can, whether it’s assisting those individuals who had to leave their own state to protect democracy.”
For Hochul, the Texas Democrats’ actions carried particular weight because of the personal sacrifices involved. “These are citizens who’ve left their homes, leaving their kids behind, leaving their spouses behind,” she said. “They’re doing this because they believe it’s the only way to defend the democratic process.”
Hochul has positioned New York as a state willing to lend both symbolic and practical support to lawmakers in other parts of the country who are engaged in high-stakes political battles. Her public backing for the Texas delegation reflects a growing awareness among Democratic governors that state-level fights over voting rights, representation, and district maps are connected — and that the outcomes in one state can influence national politics.
