A Texas Republican lawmaker is calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to act fast and curb the governor’s emergency powers before Democratic Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa is sworn in on Jan. 19.
State Rep. Brian Harrison, who represents parts of Ellis County, made his case Wednesday in a lengthy post on X, arguing that Republicans still have the upper hand in Austin and should use the remaining ten weeks before the transition.
“We still have total power in Texas, and we must act like it,” Harrison wrote, urging lawmakers to restore separation of powers and limit the emergency authority Hinojosa is set to inherit.
Harrison warned that, without action, Hinojosa would effectively hold the powers of a “DICTATOR,” arguing a governor could modify laws, ignore laws or create and enforce new ones, including criminal laws.
He wants Abbott to call a special legislative session to restrict those powers, including prohibiting the governor from suspending or modifying statutes.
Harrison told FOX 4 that if Abbott wants to do one final good thing for Texas, he should immediately call lawmakers back to the Capitol.
The push follows Hinojosa’s historic upset of Abbott on Tuesday. She won 52.78% of the vote to Abbott’s 45.66%, according to Decision Desk HQ, becoming the first Democrat elected governor of Texas since Ann Richards in 1990. Abbott has conceded the race.
Under Texas law, Abbott could summon legislators back to Austin before Hinojosa takes office. A special session can last no more than 30 days.
Harrison is no newcomer to the issue. He previously authored legislation to limit the governor’s emergency powers, but the bill never advanced. The debate over executive emergency authority intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, when governors across the country used sweeping powers.
Harrison’s call drew swift backlash online, with critics accusing Republicans of hypocrisy for seeking to limit powers that GOP lawmakers allowed Abbott to wield for years. Some commenters labeled the effort a Republican power grab.
Harrison, who won his own re-election bid Tuesday, closed his post with a direct appeal to the governor, telling Abbott he still holds the office and still has the power to act.
It remains unclear whether Abbott will answer the call. Hinojosa is expected to take office in January, ending Abbott’s more than decade-long tenure as governor.
The Texas push stands in contrast to neighboring battles elsewhere. In Georgia, outgoing Republican Gov. Brian Kemp announced Wednesday that he would not call a special session to curtail the powers of his Democratic successor.
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