Texas AG Ken Paxton sues to remove 13 Democrats over quorum-breaking walkout [View all]

Source: USA Today

Aug. 8, 2025, 8:06 p.m. ET


EL PASO, Texas - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit to remove 13 Democratic state legislators from office amid the ongoing standoff over redrawing U.S. House districts to help President Donald Trump and the GOP maintain their majority in the 2026 midterms.

The suit, filed with the Texas Supreme Court on Aug. 8, asserts that the prolonged absence of the Democratic legislators amounts to an abandonment of their elected offices. The 13 Texas state Democrats were part of a contingent of lawmakers who left the state on Aug. 2 in an effort to deny Republicans the quorum needed to pass their proposed new congressional maps.

The maps, demanded by Trump and pushed through by Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott, are designed to give Republicans five new Texas seats in the U.S. House of Representatives following the November 2026 election.

Paxton targeted legislators from Texas' most populous cities, such as Austin, Houston and Dallas.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/08/08/texas-ken-paxton-court-democrats-gop-redistricting/85584874007/