Texas Representative Gene Wu dismisses Governor Abbott's attempts to remove him from office as insignificant
In the ongoing political drama in Texas, State Rep. Gene Wu, a Democrat who represents part of Houston and chairs the Texas House Democratic caucus, is facing an emergency petition filed by Governor Greg Abbott to remove him from office. The petition, which alleges abandonment of office, stems from Wu's participation in a quorum break aimed at preventing Republicans from advancing a GOP-friendly map during the special legislative session that began on August 8, 2025.
Wu, along with about 50 other Texas Democrats, fled the state to break quorum and prevent Republicans from advancing a map that he believes could either split communities apart or smash them together, resulting in less power for Democrats. In an interview with NPR, Wu spoke about why he feels this effort is worth it and why he is not worried about the Trump administration dragging him back to Texas.
However, the legal basis for Abbott's petition is not without controversy. Constitutional and legal experts argue that breaking quorum does not legally amount to abandonment of office. They assert that abandonment would require proof that a member both failed to perform their official duties and intended to relinquish their seat, neither of which is clearly demonstrated by simply leaving the state during a quorum break.
Quorum breaks are a recognized legislative tactic and an inherent feature of office duties, making equating a quorum break to abandonment inconsistent with constitutional text and precedent. If the House lacks quorum on Friday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton intends to seek a court ruling declaring that Democrats have abandoned their offices, potentially allowing Abbott to replace them.
Wu, however, argues that the governor does not have the power to file a suit to remove him from office under state law. He claims that even Ken Paxton, the Texas Attorney General, agrees with this. Wu also believes that President Trump, through the FBI, has no power to intervene in something that they do not have jurisdiction to intervene in.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican, has stated that the FBI has agreed to help find and arrest the Democrats who fled the state. However, Wu is not afraid of the FBI coming to look for him, as the governor and Attorney General have no power outside of the state if they follow the law.
The primary purpose of the special session is to redraw congressional maps in an attempt to gain up to five additional seats for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections. Wu argues that if this spreads and states manipulate congressional maps, it could be the end of democracy. He states that if people stop listening to the people and can win without doing what they want, it's game over quickly.
Wu's stance is clear: he believes that he is standing up for democracy and the people of Texas by participating in the quorum break. The legal battle surrounding his removal from office is expected to continue, with the outcome potentially setting a precedent for future quorum breaks in Texas and beyond.
- The ongoing political drama in Texas involves a debate over the legality of Governor Greg Abbott's petition to remove State Rep. Gene Wu, who stands by his argument that the governor does not have the power to file a suit to remove him from office under state law.
- The controversy surrounding the petition centers on the interpretation of abandonment of office, with constitutional and legal experts arguing that breaking quorum does not legally amount to abandonment of office.
- The debate over quorum breaks and their relation to abandonment has broader implications, as the outcome of the legal battle for Wu's removal could potentially set a precedent for future legislative tactics and the balance of power in government, especially in regards to politics, policy-and-legislation, general-news, crime-and-justice, war-and-conflicts, and government.
