Illinois speaker’s office says it's not responsible for ensuring Texas House members return to their state Texas Rep. Gene Wu says he has filed a response to Gov. Abbott's "unconstitutional, illegal" court petition Texas AG Ken Paxton sues to remove 13 Democratic state representatives from office Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced he is filing a lawsuit with the state Supreme Court to remove Democratic lawmakers who have broken quorum to try to stall Republicans’ redistricting push. “I have asked the Texas Supreme Court to declare what has been clear from the beginning: that the runaway members have officially vacated their offices in the Texas House,” Paxton said in a statement announcing the suit. Paxton said his lawsuit was targeting “13 Democrat members who made incriminating public statements regarding their refusal to return, essentially confirming in their own words the very grounds for this legal action.” “When members of the Legislature disregard arrest warrants, refuse to perform their duties, and announce that they intend to prevent the Legislature from exercising its constitutional responsibilities, they have, through words and conduct, demonstrated an intent to relinquish and abandon their offices,” the petition to the State Supreme Court reads. Democratic state lawmakers who have left Texas to try to stall Republicans’ redistricting effort are facing an escalating pressure campaign from Republicans. That includes the deployment of law enforcement to find and return absent members, fines, potential bribery charges, and more – including another effort by Paxton to investigate Democratic fundraising on behalf of the members. Texas Democrats, however, have rebuffed the GOP warnings. “The Attorney General just filed a lawsuit to vacate my seat and remove me from office,” State Rep. John Bucy wrote on social media, responding to Paxton’s suit. “I’m not backing down.” And Rep. Ron Romero Jr., earlier Friday, argued that Paxton’s effort to target his colleagues was aimed at boosting the attorney general’s 2026 campaign for US Senate. “I think that is a politician that is running for senator,” Romero said, calling Paxton an “embarrassment” and saying that he was “doing that as a campaign ploy.”
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Illinois speaker’s office says it's not responsible for ensuring Texas House members return to their state

Texas Rep. Gene Wu says he has filed a response to Gov. Abbott's "unconstitutional, illegal" court petition

Texas AG Ken Paxton sues to remove 13 Democratic state representatives from office

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced he is filing a lawsuit with the state Supreme Court to remove Democratic lawmakers who have broken quorum to try to stall Republicans’ redistricting push.

“I have asked the Texas Supreme Court to declare what has been clear from the beginning: that the runaway members have officially vacated their offices in the Texas House,” Paxton said in a statement announcing the suit.

Paxton said his lawsuit was targeting “13 Democrat members who made incriminating public statements regarding their refusal to return, essentially confirming in their own words the very grounds for this legal action.”

“When members of the Legislature disregard arrest warrants, refuse to perform their duties, and announce that they intend to prevent the Legislature from exercising its constitutional responsibilities, they have, through words and conduct, demonstrated an intent to relinquish and abandon their offices,” the petition to the State Supreme Court reads.

Democratic state lawmakers who have left Texas to try to stall Republicans’ redistricting effort are facing an escalating pressure campaign from Republicans. That includes the deployment of law enforcement to find and return absent members, fines, potential bribery charges, and more – including another effort by Paxton to investigate Democratic fundraising on behalf of the members.

Texas Democrats, however, have rebuffed the GOP warnings. “The Attorney General just filed a lawsuit to vacate my seat and remove me from office,” State Rep. John Bucy wrote on social media, responding to Paxton’s suit. “I’m not backing down.”

And Rep. Ron Romero Jr., earlier Friday, argued that Paxton’s effort to target his colleagues was aimed at boosting the attorney general’s 2026 campaign for US Senate.

“I think that is a politician that is running for senator,” Romero said, calling Paxton an “embarrassment” and saying that he was “doing that as a campaign ploy.”