Texas Supreme Court: Democrats Did Not Vacate Offices

The Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday that Democratic state lawmakers who left Texas last summer to deny a quorum during a special legislative session did not vacate their offices, rejecting a direct challenge from Governor Greg Abbott.

The decision centered on more than 50 House Democrats, led by caucus chair Representative Gene Wu of Houston, who departed for states including New York, Illinois and Massachusetts in August 2025. Their absence halted business in the session, which Abbott had called to pass new congressional district maps along with other measures, such as aid for communities affected by July Fourth floods that killed over 100 people. Texas House rules require at least 100 of 150 members for a quorum.

Abbott filed an emergency petition with the all-Republican court, arguing that Wu and others had abandoned their posts by declaring the session over and staying away long enough to exhaust its timeline. "What is at stake here? Nothing less than the future of Texas," Abbott wrote, warning that such tactics could paralyze future sessions and bankrupt the state.

Wu countered that the lawmakers were exercising their right to dissent and had no intent to resign, as...