Washington, D.C., August 13, 2025 — In a recent appearance on Newsmax’s Wake Up America Weekend, Nestpoint Managing Director and Republican strategist John Thomas sharply criticized Texas Democrats for abandoning Austin during a crucial redistricting battle, calling their actions “derelict of their duty.”

Thomas stressed that elected officials cannot simply abandon their posts when outcomes may not align with their preferences. “When you’re elected by the people to represent them, that means you have to vote. You can’t disappear when you don’t like how a vote is going to go,” Thomas said. “These members are derelict of their duty and shame on them.”

Framing the maneuver as both political theater and self-interest, Thomas noted that such tactics have historically failed in Texas: “Democrats have tried this in years prior. It never works. The governor will call a second session and wait them out.” He added that, should Democrats remain absent long enough, they may ironically find themselves subject to new residency rules — and potentially to paying state income tax in blue states.

Turning to California, Thomas dismantled Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent attempt to politicize redistricting. He pointed out that nearly 80% of California’s congressional seats are already gerrymandered in favor of Democrats, and that Newsom’s comments are less about governance and more about national ambition. “The only reason Gavin Newsom is trying to get in this fight is he is desperately trying to be relevant on the national stage so that he can run for president,” Thomas said. “He is pandering to the liberal base in an attempt to be the tough guy who stands up to Republicans and Trump. It’s not going to work.”

Thomas underscored that the Democrats’ obstruction in Texas carries consequences beyond redistricting, delaying aid for flood victims and infrastructure rebuilding. “These are important votes that Democrats, because they want to play politics on the presidential level, are hurting Texans,” he said.

Closing his remarks, Thomas contrasted the inauthenticity of Democrats’ tactics with President Trump’s consistency. “One thing we know, whether you’re Republican or Democrat, you can’t out-Trump Trump,” Thomas remarked. “He’s the ultimate tweeter. Democrats trying to copy him just come off corny and desperate.”

Throughout the discussion, Thomas reinforced Nestpoint’s focus on political clarity and strategic leadership in high-stakes environments. His commentary reflects Nestpoint’s deep engagement in assessing how state-level political maneuvers influence broader national and economic dynamics.

This interview originally aired on Newsmax’s Wake Up America Weekend. Watch it here.

‍

About Nestpoint

Nestpoint, with a global footprint, and a formidable presence in Washington, D.C., is a leading government affairs, finance and private equity firm. As a strategic ally, Nestpoint transforms challenges into opportunities through its expertise in policy influence, global networks, and financial innovation, delivering customized solutions for sustained client success. Nestpoint advises multibillion-dollar companies in the manufacturing, energy, and technology sectors as well as foreign nations.