Texas Gov. Abbott Asks Supreme Court To Remove House Democratic Leader Amid Walkout

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has escalated the standoff over a controversial GOP-led redistricting effort by filing an emergency petition with the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court to remove Democratic House Caucus Chair Gene Wu from office. Abbott accuses Wu and other Democrats of abandoning their duties by leaving the state to block a redistricting vote that would add five GOP-leaning congressional seats, a move supported by President Donald Trump. Abbott’s petition calls the Democrats' absence a "hijacking of Texas government" and argues that such actions undermine representative democracy. Wu has defended the walkout as fulfilling his oath to protect communities from what he describes as illegal racial gerrymandering and a corrupt agenda, calling Abbott's lawsuit an attempt to silence dissent. Legal experts, including Republican officials, have expressed skepticism about the petition's legal standing and its enforceability. The dispute highlights the ongoing partisan battle over redistricting in Texas ahead of the 2026 midterms, with Republicans aiming to secure an advantage in the U.S. House.