{"id":2603314,"date":"2026-05-15T17:23:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T21:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/greg-abbott-fails-in-court-request-to-oust-democrats-who-broke-quorum\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T17:25:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T21:25:18","slug":"greg-abbott-fails-in-court-request-to-oust-democrats-who-broke-quorum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/greg-abbott-fails-in-court-request-to-oust-democrats-who-broke-quorum\/","title":{"rendered":"Greg Abbott fails in court request to oust Democrats who broke quorum"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgreg-abbott-fails-in-court-request-to-oust-democrats-who-broke-quorum%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2603314&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>the Texas Supreme Court rejected Gov.Greg Abbott\u2019s request too remove Democratic lawmakers who fled the state legislature last summer to block the GOP\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >mid-decade redistricting efforts<\/a>. abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton argued that, by breaking quorum, the Democrats abandoned thier offices-quorum requiring at least two-thirds of the Texas House to be present to conduct business and shutting down a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/where-redistricting-stands-a-year-out-from-the-midterm-elections\/\" title=\"Where redistricting stands a year out from the midterm elections\">special redistricting session<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>More than 50 Democrats remained out of state (including New York,Illinois,and Massachusetts) before returning after republican leaders imposed financial penalties-$8,000 fines each,totaling nearly $422,000. Chief Justice James Blacklock ruled that the problem resolved on its own through political and practical measures, so the court did not need to intervene. The court noted that remedies available within the Texas political system were sufficient and left open only the possibility of judicial review in a future case if those political remedies proved inadequate.<\/p>\n<p>While Rep.Gene Wu, who leads the Democratic caucus, was specifically targeted in Abbott\u2019s removal bid, Wu praised the decision. The walkout did not stop republicans from passing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ron-desantis-makes-floridas-new-congressional-maps-official-in-timely-redistricting-boost-for-republicans\/\" title=\"Ron DeSantis Makes Florida&#039;s New Congressional Maps Official in ...ly Redistricting Boost for ...\">congressional redistricting bill<\/a> that Abbott signed Aug. 29, with the GOP-drawn map expected to be used in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/johnson-not-seeking-3rd-term-in-2022-is-probably-my-preference\/\" title=\"Johnson: Not seeking 3rd term in 2022 is probably my preference\">upcoming midterm elections<\/a> after a later Supreme Court ruling.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"253\">Texas<\/a> Supreme Court rejected on a Friday a request from Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/greg-abbott\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1373\">Greg Abbott<\/a> (R-TX) to oust Democratic lawmakers who fled the state legislature last summer to protest their Republican counterparts\u2019 mid-decade <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/redistricting\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"241\">redistricting<\/a> efforts, which were ultimately successful.<\/p>\n<p>Abbott and Texas Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ken-paxton\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4370\">Ken Paxton<\/a> argued that by breaking quorum, Democrats \u201cabandoned or forfeited their offices.\u201d A quorum requires at least two-thirds of the 150-member Texas House to be present for conducting business. The Democrat-led quorum break shut down the redistricting-related special legislative session Abbott called last year.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4570460\/nra-sues-virginia-assault-weapons-ban-supreme-court-review-similar-laws\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>NRA sues Virginia over new \u2018assault weapons\u2019 ban as Supreme Court could review similar laws<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4570785\/harvey-weinstein-rape-retrial-end-mistrial-jury-deadlock\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Harvey Weinstein\u2019s rape retrial ends in mistrial after jury deadlock<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4570660\/doj-death-penalty-suspect-israeli-embassy-shooting\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ seeks death penalty for man accused of killing two Israeli Embassy workers<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>More than 50 Texas Democrats fled to New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts at the time, but they eventually returned after Texas Republicans threatened to impose fines.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>That threat ultimately came to fruition last month when a Republican-led Texas House committee slapped each Democrat who broke quorum with an $8,000 fine. The fines amounted to nearly $422,000.<\/p>\n<p>Chief Justice James Blacklock determined that the issue was resolved on its own and, as a result, found that the case doesn\u2019t require the Texas Supreme Court to intervene.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn the end, a quorum was restored in two weeks\u2019 time, without judicial intervention, by the interplay of political and practical forces,\u201d Blacklock <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.txcourts.gov\/media\/1462729\/250674_0687.pdf\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.txcourts.gov\/media\/1462729\/250674_0687.pdf\">wrote in a five-page opinion<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The decision is notable, considering all nine justices on the state\u2019s high court are Republicans.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhatever wrong may have been committed by the absent House members, the Texas Constitution\u2019s internal political remedies, none of which involve the judicial branch, were sufficient to the task of restoring the House\u2019s ability to do business,\u201d the opinion stated.<\/p>\n<p>The court left open the possibility of weighing in on a similar case in the future.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShould those remedies unexpectedly prove inadequate in a future case, we might have occasion to consider whether any judicial remedy could ever be available in circumstances such as these,\u201d the opinion added. \u201cWe resolve neither that question nor any other today.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Texas state Rep. Gene Wu, who leads the Democratic caucus, was targeted specifically in Abbott\u2019s request for removal from office. Wu praised the court\u2019s opinion.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen Greg Abbott threatened to arrest and expel us for denying him a quorum, we told him he should \u2018come and take it.\u2019 He tried,\u201d he <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/bradj_TX\/status\/2055303119647449274\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/bradj_TX\/status\/2055303119647449274\">said in a defiant statement<\/a>. \u201cAbbott was wrong, weak, and after all his bluster, he couldn\u2019t come and take a damn thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4544190\/supreme-court-allows-texas-pro-gop-redistricting-to-stand\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4544190\/supreme-court-allows-texas-pro-gop-redistricting-to-stand\/\">SUPREME COURT ALLOWS TEXAS\u2019S PRO-GOP REDISTRICTING TO STAND<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/texasdemocrats\/status\/2055321352735764791\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/texasdemocrats\/status\/2055321352735764791\">Texas Democratic Party<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TexasHDC\/status\/2055305485444628932\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TexasHDC\/status\/2055305485444628932\">Texas House Democrats<\/a> also released celebratory statements.<\/p>\n<p>The Democrats staged walkout, however, didn\u2019t deter Texas Republicans from passing a bill to redraw the state\u2019s congressional map. Abbott signed the measure into law on Aug. 29. The GOP-friendly map is expected to be used in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/midterm-elections\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"308\">midterm elections<\/a> following a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"203\">Supreme Court<\/a> ruling late last month.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Texas Supreme Court rejects Abbott\u2019s bid to oust fleeing Democrats<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2603315,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26135532807087.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[33740,3685,37721,79764,37104],"class_list":["post-2603314","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-court-ruling","tag-democrats","tag-greg-abbott","tag-quorum-dispute","tag-texas-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26135532807087.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2603314","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2603314"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2603314\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2603318,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2603314\/revisions\/2603318"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2603315"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2603314"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2603314"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2603314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}