Greg Abbott has scheduled the special election for a vacant deep-blue House seat for Nov. 4, drawing swift condemnation from Democrats over the seven-month waiting period and inviting threats of legal action.

Gov. Greg Abbott has set Nov. 4 as the special election date to fill the congressional seat left vacant by former Rep. Sylvester Turner’s death — a timeline that leaves the solidly Democratic seat vacant for at least seven months as Republicans look to drive President Donald Trump’s agenda through a narrowly divided Congress.

A special election to replace U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner in Congress will take place Nov. 4, Gov. Greg Abbott’s office announced Monday.