Texas Gov. Abbott Seeks Court Expulsion of Absent Democrats

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has taken unprecedented legal action to declare vacant the seats of Democratic lawmakers who fled the state to block a GOP-backed congressional redistricting map, a move that would add more Republican seats as requested by President Donald Trump. Abbott's petition, targeting House Democratic leader Rep. Gene Wu as a test case, challenges longstanding legal precedent and Texas constitutional provisions, which set a high quorum threshold to limit majority power. Despite Abbott's push, Attorney General Ken Paxton, also a Republican, publicly disagreed with the governor's authority to pursue such a case. The petition is now before the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court, where Abbott has appointed six of nine justices, including former associates like Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock, raising questions about political influence on the court. Legal experts emphasize that leaving the state to deny a quorum does not equate to abandoning an office, and historical quorum breaks have not led to member expulsions. The controversy highlights a significant constitutional and political conflict over legislative procedure and redistricting in Texas.