Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreThe U.S. map might look different in 2027 if Texas Republicans have their way.Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows released an overview of committee priorities for 2027 last week, and among the items listed was the consideration of absorbing New Mexico counties that want to secede from the state.The Governmental Oversight Committee, which Burrows created, has been assigned to examine the Texas-New Mexico border and to consider the implications of absorbing New Mexican counties that are trying to break away, Fox 4 reports.Earlier this year, New Mexico State Representatives Randall Pettigrew and Jimmy Mason introduced a measure that would amend the state’s constitution to establish a means for counties to secede. Their proposal died without going to a hearing.”New MeX-it,” as the secession plan was called online, caught the attention of Burrows, who supported the idea of Lea County seceding, saying on X that it could come “back to Texas, where it rightfully belongs.”Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows has ordered a state oversight committee to study whether or not Texas could absorb New Mexican counties whose leaders want to secede from the state (Getty Images)A spokesperson for New Mexico Governor Michelle Grisham’s office told Fox 4 that Texas can do whatever studies it wants, but it has no intention of shedding counties to its eastern neighbor.”We have every intention of keeping the great state of New Mexico fully intact, but Texas can study it all they want,” the spokesperson told Fox 4. “While they’re at it, they could also study how New Mexico has reduced methane emissions in the Permian Basin by half compared to their state. If Texas followed our lead, it would be a win-win for Texans and the planet.”The secession movement is led by New Mexico Republicans who cite a cultural disconnect between their counties and the state capital, which is controlled by Democrats.”Southeast New Mexico deserves a real voice in its own future, not one dictated by Santa Fe. It’s a conservative, energy-rich region with a fierce independent streak, and West Texas has shown what’s possible when you respect oil and gas, protect property rights, and trust local communities,” Burrows wrote in a statement.He continued, saying the “conversation is ultimately about culture, opportunity, and the right to choose a path that reflects the shared values of the Permian and Delaware basins.”Texas actually taking New Mexican counties seems like a long-shot proposal. Democrats control both chambers of the New Mexico legislature and the statehouse. Republicans outside of the seceding counties would effectively be voting to weaken their own party’s strength in the state if they backed the play, as they would lose legislative districts and thus voting power to Texas.Until a new secession amendment is introduced, Texas’ study will remain an exercise in hypotheticals.
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