Texas Rep. Gene Wu calls Gov. Abbott's push to oust him from office 'meaningless'

Source: NPR

Updated August 8, 202511:59 AM ET


Texas Democrats who fled the state this week intend to "kill and end" a "corrupt" special session called by the state's governor, says State Rep. Gene Wu.

Gov. Greg Abbott called the 30-day special legislative session at the behest of President Trump to redraw congressional maps in the hopes of gaining up to five additional seats for Republicans ahead of next year's midterm elections. The special session's agenda also includes certain other pressing items, including passing relief for victims of the July 4 flooding in Central Texas.

Wu, a Democrat who represents part of Houston and chairs the Texas House Democratic caucus, and about 50 other Texas Democrats fled the state this past weekend to break quorum and prevent Republicans — at least temporarily — from advancing a GOP friendly map. Abbott is now seeking to remove Wu, whom the governor dubbed the "ringleader" of Democrats' quorum break, from office through an emergency petition filed with the Texas Supreme Court this week. The governor argues Wu, who has until Friday to respond to the court, has abandoned his office.

Wu called Abbott's petition "meaningless" in an interview with Morning Edition and said the governor doesn't have the power to file such a suit under state law. "Either Governor Abbott is just a complete buffoon and doesn't know what basic law is, or he's just doing this as a political stunt and using it to lie to the American public," Wu said.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2025/08/08/nx-s1-5495524/texas-redistricting-democrats-gene-wu