Governors hold the power to play politics with vacant House seats

A growing number of House vacancies are giving governors the power to hold seats open indefinitely, casting uncertainty over Republicans’ narrow control of the lower chamber.

Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) has yet to release a time frame for a special election following the death of Texas Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner last week. Republicans, meanwhile, fear that Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) will slow-walk the special election for Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who will soon resign to become President Donald Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations.