The Texas Supreme Court denied Gov. Greg Abbott’s attempt to remove Houston Rep. Gene Wu and other Democratic lawmakers from office. The Chief Justice, a former Abbott aide, stated that it is not the court’s role to intervene in disputes that the Legislature can resolve on its own.
This decision is a setback for Abbott, who aimed to expel members refusing to return and pass a new congressional map. The redistricting was pushed by President Trump to boost the GOP’s House majority by creating five new Republican seats in Texas.
Over 50 Democrats, including Wu, left the state to block the GOP’s map. Abbott’s lawsuit against Wu was rejected, with the court ruling that political remedies within the Texas Constitution were sufficient to restore functionality to the Legislature.
The court signaled a willingness to address any future quorum breaks or lawmakers purposefully disrupting legislative business. Quorum breaking, a tactic used by Texas Democrats in the past, has a history of delaying legislative proceedings.
Wu declared victory after the court ruling, stating that the Constitution does not allow a governor to overturn voters’ choices. Abbott’s spokesperson criticized the Democrats’ actions and warned against a similar move in the future, promising to bring them back to court if needed.
Abbott had filed a petition accusing Wu of abandoning his office by leaving for Illinois during a special session. Wu’s response emphasized that he was representing his constituents by resisting legislation he believed was harmful.
This ruling is significant as no Texas lawmaker has ever been removed solely for breaking quorum, and no governor has ever successfully removed a legislator for this reason in U.S. history.
