Abbott moves to remove Wu over quorum break

Texas Democrats fled the state to block a GOP map as Abbott seeks the removal of a Democrat, raising questions about power and the rule of law.

Texas Redistricting Battle Tests Abbott Authority

Gov. Greg Abbott has called a 30-day special session to redraw congressional maps, aiming to win up to five additional Republican seats ahead of next year’s elections.
Democrat Rep. Gene Wu and about 50 colleagues left Texas to break quorum, halting the House from meeting and delaying actions on the GOP plan.
Abbott has filed an emergency petition with the Texas Supreme Court to remove Wu from office, arguing the law allows a governor to act when lawmakers abandon their duties. Wu counters that the move is meaningless and outside the governor’s authority.
Abbott’s office says the Democrats’ absence deprives the House of the quorum needed to conduct business on behalf of Texans, a claim Paxton and other Republicans echo as they push for consequences.

The episode shows how redistricting battles can become a test of constitutional authority and political strategy. Using quorum rules to block legislation exposes a sharp clash between governing processes and partisan aims, raising questions about the proper limits of executive and legislative power.
The fight also highlights how demographic shifts and national politics intersect with state mapmaking. The involvement of federal actors and high-profile figures from both parties underscores how district lines can become a national issue, with real implications for who gets heard in elections and how communities are represented.

Highlights

The coming days will reveal how far state power can bend during a map fight and what that means for accountability.