Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday that a special election to fill the late Democratic U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner's seat won’t be held until November and defended the timing by renewing criticism of past Houston-area elections.

Democrats had accused Abbott of delaying calling a special election for the seat after Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Texas, died in early March.

The House minority leader accused Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas of holding up a special election to keep the Republicans’ slim majority steady.