WASHINGTON

Texas Governor Greg Abbott filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to remove Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu from office, escalating a showdown over a Republican-backed redistricting plan.

“Today I took emergency action to begin the removal from office of derelict Democrat Texas House members who refuse to show up for the special session,” Abbott wrote on X.

The move follows a walkout by over 50 House Democrats, many of whom reportedly fled to Illinois and New York to deny the chamber a quorum and block a vote on a proposed map that would create five new Republican-leaning congressional seats.

“They have not returned and have not met the quorum requirements,” Abbott said, referencing his ultimatum issued Sunday.

On Monday, he also directed Texas Rangers to investigate the fleeing lawmakers for potential violations of state law.

Democrats have blasted the redistricting push as a partisan power grab, saying in a statement: “Come and take it.”