California Governor Gavin Newsom called out Texas Senator John Cornyn on Friday for not knowing that the Texas House was on recess during a special legislative session.
The 30-day session, called by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, is focused on flood response and redrawing congressional districts—part of what critics say is a Republican plan, backed by Donald Trump, to tighten control in Washington.
On Friday, with the Texas House on break, several Democratic lawmakers traveled to meet with Newsom and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. Their goal: figure out how to fight Republican-led redistricting efforts. The lawmakers planned to return the same day.
Cornyn reacted on social media: “Leaving the State of Texas when a 30-day special session is underway is a dereliction of duty,” he wrote on X. “I support all methods of returning these legislators to the State Capitol so state business can continue.”
Newsom fired back, exposing Cornyn’s mistake. “They are on recess,” he wrote on X. “Do you even know what’s going on in your own state?”
Cornyn wasn’t the only one taking shots. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened to arrest any Democrat who tries to leave the state to avoid a vote on redistricting.
Democrats outside Texas aren’t staying quiet either. Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin warned on Wednesday that if Texas Republicans succeed in gerrymandering, she’s ready to “go nuclear” and push Democrats in other states to redraw their maps too.
While Cornyn accused lawmakers of skipping out on their duties, Newsom pointed out the obvious: there was nothing for them to skip.
