Texas Democrat Reacts as Abbott Asks State Supreme Court to Remove Him

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Newsweek

Published Aug 05, 2025 at 9:01 PM EDT


Gene Wu, chair of the Democratic Caucus in Texas' House of Representatives, didn't mince words on Tuesday upon reacting to Governor Greg Abbott's request that he be removed from his position. "This is just purely insanity," Wu told CNN's John King. Hours earlier, Abbott filed an emergency petition asking the Texas state Supreme Court to oust Wu.

Why It Matters

Wu's comments on Tuesday came as Democrats and Republicans in the Lone Star State are in an escalating fight over the GOP's efforts to redraw Texas' congressional map to gain five seats in the U.S. House of Representatives as the 2026 midterms loom. The move by the Republican Party prompted Democrats in the state legislature to leave Texas in a push to halt GOP lawmakers from redrawing the map.

What To Know

"I made clear in a formal statement on Sunday, August 3, that if the Texas House Democrats were not in attendance when the House reconvened at 3:00 PM on Monday, August 4, then action would be taken to seek their removal," the governor said in a press release.

"First of all, this is not my seat and it's sure as hell not Governor Abbott's seat," Wu told CNN in response to Abbott's lawsuit. "This seat belongs to the people of the state of Texas, and I've taken multiple oaths to defend them and to protect them at any cost.""What we are looking at is a governor who is conspiring with a disgraced president to use unconstitutional, illegal racial gerrymandering to destroy our communities," added Wu, who is a former prosecutor who has served in the Texas House of Representatives since 2013. "I have a duty to respond to that. I have an obligation to do everything I can to stop that, using every legal means necessary."

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-democrat-reacts-greg-abbott-redistricting-lawsuit-2109428

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Bravo! Strong statement by Rep. Wu! STRONG!

Shows the people the basis for democracy, power derived FROM the people to those elected. Not top down dictatorship!!

[johnnyfins]

2. I am sorry for all of the good people of Texas

But F that state. Let them do it. Turn every district in California blue. Add more from Illinois and elsewhere. FAFO, TSF, Abbott, and Paxton. FAFO.

[hamsterjill]

9. Well, thank you for the sympathy.

Texas appreciates the help it is getting from the rest of the nation.

Please know that there are A WHOLE LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE in Texas who are still working to make change. Many are feeling hopeless. Many are feeling fearful. Many of us understand that we are the stronghold for the rest of the nation.

It would be wise if others understood that, as well. I'm certainly not saying that you don't or anyone here doesn't understand. I'm just saying that it needs to be made a broader platform. If Texas falls, America does not stand a chance in hell.

[Cha]

14. I understand and a lot of us DO!

Good Luck to All Texas Dems!

[mzmolly]

3. Remove the criminal governor.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. If anything

the position needs term limits.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. It truly does need term limits, but with the republicans in power, that will not happen. Rec n/t

[EmmaLee E]

6. There are term limits

They are called "elections"

[Chi67]

7. Not in Texas

It’s already gerrymandered as hell. Elections are merely a formality when it comes to voting for governor there.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. Ah, well said!

[BumRushDaShow]

12. But when you "rig" those elections

by putting in draconian measures that often impact blue areas (mostly the cities there), then it underscores why term limits are needed.

[OldBaldy1701E]

11. If anything, ALL elected positions in this country need term limits.

But, here we are. Because career politicians good... for some freaking reason.

Back in the past, such people were called 'the nobility'. I thought we had fought a war to show that we did not like such a system, nor wanted to live under it.

I guess I was wrong.

[El Mimbreno]

10. Pure coincidence...

that abbott's first target just happens to be of Asian heritage?

Or am I just... whatever.

[Cha]

13. Wow.. Texas Rep Gene Wu is Good!

Best of Luck to him and All Texas Dems!