Texas Showdown: Abbott, Paxton Seek to Oust Democrats Over Redistricting Boycott

In an unprecedented legal move, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has asked the state’s Supreme Court to remove Democratic State Representative Gene Wu from office, after House Democrats fled the state to prevent a vote on a controversial redistricting plan. The legal filing is part of a growing battle between Republican leadership and minority party lawmakers over political maps that could reshape the state’s congressional delegation.

Abbott’s urgent request called on the court to act within 48 hours to unseat Wu, who chairs the House Democratic Caucus. However, the Texas Supreme Court declined to meet that accelerated deadline. Instead, justices issued a briefing schedule giving both sides three weeks to submit legal arguments, with final responses due by September 4—well after the current special legislative session is expected to end.

Still, Abbott treated the court’s decision as a positive development. He posted on social media that the timeline brings “the ringleader of the derelict Democrats … closer to consequences.”

Abbott’s lawsuit has now been combined with a parallel case filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton is targeting Wu and 12 other Democratic representatives who left the state in early August, temporarily paralyzing the Texas House. While Abbott and Paxton initially disagreed about who had the legal authority to pursue such removals, Paxton now says he’s aligned with the governor.

“I look forward to working with Governor Abbott to hold these cowards accountable,” Paxton said in a recent statement.

On August 3, dozens of Democratic lawmakers traveled out of state in a coordinated effort to break quorum, preventing the House from advancing a Republican redistricting bill. The move was a last-ditch attempt to block the passage of a new congressional map that critics say unfairly favors Republicans.

The mid-decade redistricting effort follows pressure from former President Donald Trump, who has pushed for a more aggressive redrawing of maps that would give the GOP at least five additional seats in Congress. With the party’s national majority in the House of Representatives hanging by a thread ahead of the 2026 midterms, the stakes for redistricting in Texas are high.

Democratic lawmakers argue that their actions represent a legitimate form of protest. They say the map in question amounts to gerrymandering and threatens to dilute the voting power of minority communities across the state. Similar walkouts have occurred in other states throughout American history, though no Texas legislator has ever been forcibly removed for breaking quorum.

Attorneys representing Rep. Wu say he is fulfilling his duty to his constituents by attempting to block legislation they oppose. They also stress that Wu has neither resigned nor been expelled through proper legislative procedures.

“Representative Wu has not died and has not been expelled from the House by the constitutionally prescribed means: a two-thirds vote of the chamber,” his legal team stated in a court filing. “His presence in another state is not a voluntary resignation — as his opposition to this petition makes evident.”

Legal observers say the effort to remove lawmakers for a quorum break is without precedent in Texas. According to the Texas Tribune, no governor in U.S. history has successfully used the courts to remove elected legislators for abstaining from a vote by physically leaving the state.

Adding to the complexity of the case is the makeup of the Texas Supreme Court. All nine justices are Republicans, and several were originally appointed by Governor Abbott. The court’s Chief Justice, along with another sitting member, previously served as Abbott’s general counsel—a fact that has raised questions about judicial impartiality.

“These justices operate independently, but it’s a tricky political spot,” said Andrew Cates, an Austin attorney and ethics law expert. “They may be hesitant to appear as though they’re biting the hand that appointed them, but they also don’t want to look like they’re carrying out a political purge.”

Meanwhile, pressure continues to build in the Texas Legislature. House Speaker Dustin Burrows has warned that if quorum isn’t reached by Friday, he will adjourn the session early, giving Abbott the opportunity to call another 30-day special session. Abbott has made clear he’s willing to call as many sessions as necessary until the redistricting bill is passed.