Eroxl's Notes
Greg Abbott Requests an Emergency Petition for Writ of Quo Warranto

On August 5th, 2025, Texas Governor Greg Abbott filed an emergency petition for a writ of quo warranto in the Supreme Court of Texas, asking the Court to declare that State Representative Gene Wu has forfeited his office after leaving the state with other Democrats to deny the House a quorum during a special session on proposed congressional maps. [1] [2] [3]

Abbott’s filing frames the petition as an urgent, it asks the Court to remove Wu (and implicitly create a pathway to challenge other absent members) on two primary theories:

  1. Abandonment/forfeiture of office (for failing to perform legislative duties) [2]
  2. Accepting impermissible benefits (the petition alleges travel lodging were solicited received and characterizes that as potential bribery/forfeiture evidence). [4]

The petition expressly invokes the Court’s original quo warranto jurisdiction and asks for expedited relief before the special session expires. [1]

Abbott’s office released a contemporaneous statement describing the filing as “emergency” action to prevent a minority from “holding the State hostage” by repeated quorum breaks; the press release identifies Wu as the initial respondent and reiterates the abandonment/bribery allegations. [2]

Responses

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's Response to Greg Abbott's Petition

In response the to petition for writ of quo warranto issued by Governor Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a letter stating that he agreed with the Governor's central goal of returning the Democrats who fled the state in order to prevent the redistricting vote, however disagreed that the Governor had the legal power to request a write of quo warrant as the court had previously stated that such filings "can only be brought by the attorney general". [1] The Attorney General also requested that the court not dismiss the Governor’s petition until the speaker of the house’s Friday deadline at which time he will take action. [1] [2]

1: Re: In re Greg Abbott, No. 25-0674 2: Attor­ney Gen­er­al Ken Pax­ton Takes Action in the Texas Supreme Court Against Run­away Demo­c­rat Who Aban­doned Office to Break Quorum

1: Emergency Petition for Wriute if Quo Warranto 2: Governor Abbott Files Lawsuit Seeking Removal Of Texas Democrat Caucus Chair Representative Wu 3: Texas Democrats Leave State to Stop Redistricting Vote 4: Emergency Petition for Wriute if Quo Warranto - Page 27