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Texas Governor Aims to Remove Absent Democrats With Emergency Petition to State High Court

The petition could lead to Democratic lawmakers who left the state being stripped of their powers. The caucus chair has until Friday to respond.
Texas Governor Aims to Remove Absent Democrats With Emergency Petition to State High Court
Texas Rep. Gene Wu speaks in front of Democratic members of Congress and Texas House Democrats during a news conference, after they left their state to deny Republicans the quorum needed to redraw the state's 38 congressional districts, at IBEW Local Union 701 in Warrenville, Ill., on Aug. 4, 2025. Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images
Darlene McCormick Sanchez
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In a rare move aimed at bypassing a lengthy court battle, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott petitioned the state Supreme Court to remove a state Democratic leader trying to derail Republican plans to redraw the state’s congressional map.

More than 50 Democrats left the Lone Star State for several blue states and have been absent from the 150-member Texas House, which requires 100 legislators to meet quorum and conduct business.

Darlene McCormick Sanchez
Darlene McCormick Sanchez
Reporter
Darlene McCormick Sanchez is an Epoch Times reporter who covers border security and immigration, election integrity, and Texas politics. Ms. McCormick Sanchez has 20 years of experience in media and has worked for outlets including Waco Tribune Herald, Tampa Tribune, and Waterbury Republican-American. She was a finalist for a Pulitzer prize for investigative reporting.