Texas high court rejects removal of Democratic lawmakers who led quorum break over redistricting
The court said lawmakers restored a quorum without judicial help and left open possible intervention in future quorum breaks.
- On Friday, the Texas Supreme Court rejected Gov. Greg Abbott's emergency petition to remove Houston Rep. Gene Wu, ruling the Legislature successfully restored a quorum without judicial intervention.
- Abbott argued that Wu abandoned his office by decamping to Illinois to stall the GOP's map, claiming Wu's departure signaled intent to run out the clock on the special session.
- Wu's lawyers contended he was representing constituents by opposing legislation and argued he "has not died and has not been expelled from the House by the constitutionally prescribed means: a 2/3 vote."
- Justice James Sullivan warned in a concurring opinion that future quorum breakers "had better be ready to pay us a visit," signaling potential Supreme Court intervention in subsequent breaks.
- Quorum breaking has a long history in Texas politics, with Democrats fleeing in 2003 and 2021 to delay redistricting and voting restrictions; the Texas Constitution requires two-thirds attendance.
34 Articles
34 Articles
Texas High Court: Dems Who Fled Didn't Abandon Office
The Texas Supreme Court on Friday refused to declare that Democratic lawmakers who briefly fled the state in 2025 to block a vote on new congressional voting maps pushed by President Trump had vacated their office. The all-Republican court dealt a blow to Gov. Greg Abbott and state Republicans in...
The Texas Supreme Court overturned the attempt by Lone Star State Governor Greg Abbott to dismiss all Democratic legislators who fled to delay at least the approval of the new electoral map that would favor the achievement of five new seats for Republicans in the face of midterms. The ruling of the court judges, all of them Republican in profile, is a setback for Abbott, who had in a lawsuit filed directly before the state's highest-ranking civi…
Texas Supreme Court shoots down GOP governor’s request to punish Dem over protest
The Texas Supreme Court rejected Gov. Greg Abbott’s efforts to remove Houston Rep. Gene Wu from office Friday, saying that the Legislature was able to secure House Democrats’ attendance and restore a quorum last summer without involvement from the court.Writing for the majority, Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock — a Republican and former Abbott aide — cited legal precedent in which the courts “have uniformly recognized that it is not their role to r…
Supreme Court of Texas refuses removal of Texas House Democratic leader who broke quorum last year
When Texas House Democrats broke quorum over GOP-led redistricting efforts in 2025, Gov. Greg Abbott filed a lawsuit requesting the state’s highest court remove House Minority Leader Rep. Gene Wu, (D-Houston) from office. On Friday, the SCOTX denied that request.
Associated Press News
Texas high court rejects removal of Democratic lawmakers who led quorum break over redistricting
The Texas Supreme Court has refused to declare that Democratic state lawmakers who briefly left the state last year in a quorum break to stop a vote on new congressional voting maps pushed by President Donald Trump vacated their offices.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 47% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
