Abbott Moves To Oust Democrat Who Led Texas Walkout Stunt

Republican Governor Greg Abbott asked the Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday to remove Democrat House Caucus Chair Gene Wu from office after he, along with 50 other Democratic lawmakers, left the state to block a vote on GOP-backed congressional redistricting. 

Wu and the other Democrats fled Texas on Sunday to deny Republicans the quorum needed to proceed. Abbott filed a lawsuit seeking to remove Wu from office, claiming he was violating the state Constitution and effectively forfeiting his seat. 

“What is at stake here? Nothing less than the future of Texas. If a small fraction of recalcitrant lawmakers choose to run out the clock today, they can do so for any, and every, Regular or Special Session, potentially bankrupting the State in an attempt to get their way,” Abbott wrote. “That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.”

“If representatives are free not to show up whenever they choose, then Texans simply do not have a representative government. In fact, they don’t have a functioning government at all. This Court should make clear that a legislator who does not wish to perform his duties will be stripped of them,” the suit added. 

The suit argues that leaving a constitutionally mandated session “constitutes a forfeiture of office” and that soliciting donations to cover the $500 daily fee legislatures face for missing the session is bribery. 

The redistricting maps set to be considered by the Texas House are expected to create five new favorable congressional districts for Republicans. 

Wu claimed Tuesday that his actions were noble. 

“Let me be unequivocal about my actions and my duty. When a governor conspires with a disgraced president to ram through a racist gerrymandered map, my constitutional duty is to not be a willing participant,” he said in a statement. 

Trump has backed the GOP-led redistricting efforts, saying that Republicans “are entitled to five more seats.” 

​​“We have an opportunity in Texas to pick up five seats. We have a really good governor, and we have good people in Texas. And I won Texas,” Trump told CNBC. “I got the highest vote in the history of Texas, as you probably know, and we are entitled to five more seats.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom has vowed to “fight fire with fire” if the Texas redistricting efforts move forward, saying such a move would “trigger” a California response that would put a retaliatory redistricting proposal before voters in November.