Texas Governor Greg Abbott filed an emergency petition with the state's Supreme Court on Tuesday seeking the removal of Democratic state Representative Gene Wu, accusing him of abandoning his office by fleeing the state to block a GOP-led redistricting effort. The lawsuit argues Wu violated his constitutional duty by breaking quorum, as Democrats attempt to delay a controversial plan to redraw congressional maps that would add five Republican seats in the U.S. House.
"Representative Wu has openly renounced these constitutional mandates by fleeing the State of Texas to break quorum, obstruct legislative proceedings, and paralyze the Texas House of Representatives," the petition states.
Abbott, a Republican, maintains that the absence of Wu and over 50 fellow Democrats has stalled the legislative process. "Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty to Texans, and there must be consequences," Abbott said in a statement.
Wu, who chairs the Texas House Democratic Caucus, defended his actions. In a statement to KHOU, he said, "Let me be unequivocal about my actions and my duty. When a governor conspires with a disgraced president to ram through a racist gerrymandered map, my constitutional duty is to not be a willing participant."
"Denying the governor a quorum was not an abandonment of my office; it was a fulfillment of my oath," Wu added.
Wu also posted on social media from Illinois, stating, "On the ground in Chicago... Fighting for the rights of Texans and all Americans."
The Republican-controlled Texas House voted to compel the return of the absent lawmakers and authorized the state Department of Public Safety to arrest them. Attorney General Ken Paxton warned that continued absences could result in legal action to vacate their seats. President Donald Trump weighed in, suggesting that federal authorities may need to intervene. "You can't just sit it out. You have to go back. You have to fight it out," Trump told reporters.
The Texas dispute has triggered a broader political escalation, with both red and blue states exploring retaliatory redistricting strategies. California Governor Gavin Newsom announced support for a special election to allow voters to authorize mid-decade redistricting, aiming to eliminate five Republican seats. However, California's independent redistricting commission would need voter approval to override its standard decennial process.
In Missouri, Governor Mike Kehoe is facing pressure from Trump and GOP leaders to call a special legislative session to redraw maps and potentially flip a Democrat-held district. Meanwhile, New York Democrats introduced a constitutional amendment to allow redistricting outside the census cycle. Governor Kathy Hochul stated, If Texas proceeds, "we must do the same."
Maryland House Majority Leader David Moon promised to file legislation enabling early redistricting if Texas or other states advance their plans. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he was "working through what that would look like," and in Ohio, existing law already mandates redistricting before the 2026 midterms.
Wisconsin Democrats, unable to pass legislation in a Republican-led legislature, turned to the courts with new lawsuits. In Indiana, Governor Mike Braun confirmed he would meet with Vice President J.D. Vance to discuss early redistricting and said it "looks like it's going to happen across many Republican states."
