Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has formally asked the Texas Supreme Court to remove Houston Rep. Gene Wu, the current Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, from office. Abbott’s move comes after Wu and more than 50 House Democrats left the state to block a vote on a Republican-backed redistricting plan. The governor labeled their absence “abandonment of office,” while Wu called it “a fulfillment of his oath.” Now, the state’s highest court is under pressure to decide.

The redistricting proposal, strongly supported by former President Donald Trump, could give the GOP as many as five additional congressional seats. Democrats have turned to a high-stakes quorum-denial tactic — fleeing the state to halt legislative business. Abbott’s emergency filing invoked “500 years of common law” and used an obscure legal mechanism called quo warranto to argue that Wu has forfeited his position.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton quickly pushed back, saying only the AG or local prosecutors have the authority to pursue such action. Still, Paxton threatened to take legal steps of his own if the absent lawmakers fail to return by the end of the week. The situation places Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock, a known Abbott ally, and the all-Republican court in the center of a politically charged standoff.

If the court sides with Abbott, Wu’s seat could be declared vacant, triggering a special election that could tilt Texas politics even further to the right. Beyond Wu’s fate, the decision could set a precedent defining how far governors can go in punishing political protest — and whether the courts will side with executive power or legislative resistance.