Texas governor tries to fire lawmaker for not showing up to work, again

Abbott wants Gene Wu out. Filed with the Texas Supreme Court. Called him “ringleader of the derelict Democrats.” Wu skipped the vote with 50 others. Abbott says that’s abandonment. https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-files-lawsuit-seeking-removal-of-texas-democrat-caucus-chair-representative-wu

Wu hit back. “Greg Abbott now desperately seeks to silence my dissent by removing a duly-elected official,” he said. “History will judge this moment.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/08/06/texas-greg-abbott-lawsuit-gene-wu/85534837007/

Trump wants arrests. “They may have to,” he said. “You can’t just sit it out.” https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-fbi-warning-texas-democrats-2109485

Legal experts say it’s junk law. “No authority says breaking quorum equals abandoning a seat,” said Charles Rhodes. “This stretches the premise to the breaking point.” https://www.lmtonline.com/news/article/redistricting-special-session-gerrymander-quorum-20805272.php

Abbott’s case doesn’t hold. No statute backs it. No precedent supports it. Paxton says Abbott doesn’t even have standing. Wu’s travel was funded, not illegal. Trump’s FBI line is noise. The court could toss this without blinking.

Wu left. Abbott wants him punished. That’s the move. No quorum, no vote, no map. The lawsuit is leverage.

Texas is playing hardball with soft law.