Texas Governor Seeks Removal of Democrats Over Statewide Walkout

In Texas, a political standoff has escalated as Democratic lawmakers, led by House Caucus Chair Gene Wu, fled the state to block a GOP-backed congressional redistricting plan supported by President Trump, which aims to create five new Republican-leaning districts ahead of the 2026 midterms. Governor Greg Abbott has responded by filing a lawsuit to remove Wu from office, accusing him of violating the state Constitution and forfeiting his seat, and has also ordered state troopers to locate and arrest absent Democrats to compel their return. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton cited a 2021 legal opinion potentially allowing the removal of lawmakers who abandon their duties, signaling a new approach to the standoff. Meanwhile, former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker compared the situation to Wisconsin's 2011 legislative walkout and suggested Texas might have additional legal tools to address the crisis, including compelling lawmakers back to the state without imprisonment but through arrest warrants. Democrats argue that the redistricting effort is a racist gerrymander and accuse Abbott of overreach, while Republicans stress the necessity of quorum and legislative function. This confrontation highlights the intense partisan battle over redistricting and the balance of power within Texas politics, with national implications given the involvement of President Trump.