Texas Lawyer Common Ken Paxton (R) filed a lawsuit on Friday trying to vacate the seats of 13 Democratic state lawmakers who fled Texas in a bid to dam Republicans from passing a brand new GOP-friendly Home map.
Paxton is asking the Texas Supreme Court docket to declare that the 13 lawmakers have vacated their places of work after roughly 50 lawmakers left the state starting on Sunday in a bid to dam the passage of latest maps.
The 13 lawmakers affected embody Democratic state Reps. Ron Reynolds, Vikki Goodwin, Gina Hinojosa, James Talarico, Lulu Flores, Mihaela Plesa, Suleman Lalani, Chris Turner, Ana-Maria Ramos, Jessica Gonzalez, John Bucy III, Gene Wu and Christina Morales.
“When members of the Legislature disregard arrest warrants, refuse to carry out their duties, and announce that they intend to forestall the Legislature from exercising its constitutional tasks, they’ve, by way of phrases and conduct, demonstrated an intent to relinquish and abandon their places of work,” the lawsuit states. “The choice would empower a minority faction to disrupt the operation of the chamber.”
In a post on X touting the brand new lawsuit, Paxton described the Democrats as “cowards” who had “intentionally sabotaged the constitutional course of.”
Gov. Greg Abbott (R) already filed a lawsuit earlier this week trying to have Wu faraway from his seat.
A number of of the impacted Democrats denounced the brand new lawsuit in separate statements.
“Texas Republicans have by no means been extra determined. First they put warrants out for our arrest, then they instructed their supporters to ‘hunt us down,’ and now they’re making an attempt to take away me from elected workplace,” Bucy mentioned in an announcement reacting to the lawsuit.
“That is what it appears like when a President, a Governor, and a complete political social gathering work collectively to cheat in an try and steal an election,” he added. “They’re doing every part they probably can to cling to energy and subvert the desire of tens of millions of Individuals.”
Talarico taunted Paxton in a statement on X, saying “come and take it.”
“Ken Paxton simply filed a lawsuit to take away me from workplace,” he wrote. “However this seat doesn’t belong to him or me — it belongs to the individuals.”
Republicans are placing stress on Democrats to come back again because the GOP appears to wrap up its particular session. Republicans want to move a brand new Home map that will give their social gathering 5 extra pickup alternatives subsequent 12 months along with different priorities like flood restoration.
Democrats are remaining out of the state in the meanwhile over the brand new Home map Republicans are pursuing. In response, Republicans have referred to as for Democrats to be arrested and are requiring them to choose up their paychecks in-person somewhat than by direct deposit, one other option to lure Democrats again.