Texas power play, on the clock. Texas state Rep. Brian Harrison urged Gov. Greg Abbott to “IMMEDIATELY” call a special session to limit executive emergency powers before Democratic governor-elect Gina Hinojosa is sworn in. Harrison made the appeal in posts on X on Nov. 4, 2026, as quoted by The Western Journal.
Harrison’s demand—and his warning
“I call on Gov. Abbott to IMMEDIATELY convene a special session to REIN IN EXECUTIVE EMERGENCY POWERS… before Gina Hinojosa is sworn in!” Harrison wrote on X, per The Western Journal. He argued that legislators should “restore separation of powers and limit the emergency powers that Governor-Elect Hinojosa is set to inherit.” In the same thread, he claimed, “Without action, Governor Hinojosa will inherit the powers of a DICTATOR,” and described current Texas emergency powers laws as “absurd (and almost certainly unconstitutional).”
Harrison added that he has been consistent on this issue regardless of party control: “Neither party, no governor of any party, should be able to wield that type of unconstitutional executive power.”
What powers are at stake
USA Today has reported that under the Texas Disaster Act of 1975, the governor has broad authority during a declared disaster to issue executive orders that carry the force of law and to suspend regulations.
What Harrison wants passed
Harrison pointed back to a 2022 bill he filed—identified in his post as HB911—to curb a governor’s emergency powers. In his X thread, he listed these provisions:
- Prohibit the governor from suspending or modifying statutes.
- Sunset emergency orders in 30 days unless the legislature ratifies them.
- Ban reissuing emergency orders that expired or were rejected by the legislature.
- Require emergency orders to be narrowly tailored.
- Allow expedited judicial review of emergency orders.
Harrison wrote that Republicans “have total power in Texas” for the remaining ten weeks before the transition and urged immediate action.
The likely roadblock
The Houston Chronicle reported that Texas House Democrats could block any late-session push by breaking quorum. Former House Speaker Dade Phelan told the Chronicle, “Democrats are pretty good at breaking quorum… I could see them, no problem, breaking the quorum and running out the clock between now and Christmas.”
Democratic state Rep. Donna Howard told the Chronicle it would be “challenging to support doing something like that in light of the mandate of this election,” adding that Democrats would consider “options… to not participate in something like that.”
What’s unanswered
Harrison said he has received no response from Abbott. The Western Journal article framed Hinojosa as governor-elect; this piece has not independently verified election results. The scope of the governor’s disaster powers above is attributed to USA Today’s reporting.
