The Blast - August 6, 2025

13 days until sine die
94 days until the candidate filing period begins
124 days until the candidate filing deadline

IN TODAY’S BLAST

• The Texas trifecta

• No (resource) witnesses

• Not quite how Frank Sinatra sold it

THE TEXAS TRIFECTA

Republicans feel they have the upper hand in the Texas House quorum battle. But as top state electeds test their legal tools to corral the Democratic échappée, the Republican effort has devolved into a bit of a circular firing squad, with the political jockeying unfolding before the backdrop of the 2026 election.

Yesterday, Gov. Greg Abbott petitioned the Texas Supreme Court to remove House Democratic Leader Gene Wu from office.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says Abbott nor the Supreme Court have the authority to file or consider that.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn asked the FBI to get involved and says Paxton is AWOL in Europe.

It’s a double tug-of-war with Paxton pulled two separate ways.

The Abbott-Paxton dispute stems from the fact that they are citing different parts of the law addressing writs of quo warranto, a rarely used tool to determine whether someone has the right to hold their office. Abbott points to Article 5 Section 3 of the Texas Constitution, which says, “The Legislature may confer original jurisdiction on the Supreme Court to issue writs of quo warranto and mandamus in such cases as may be specified. Paxton points to Chapter 66 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code, which gives the attorney general and county or district attorneys the authority to file their petitions with the proper county court.

“While the Attorney General appreciates the Governor’s passion for ensuring that the Texas House reestablishes the quorum that is necessary to discharge the important business of the Legislature, this Court’s precedent is clear that a ‘quo warranto’ proceeding ‘can only be brought by the attorney general, a county attorney, or a district attorney,’” Paxton wrote in a letter to the Supreme Court’s clerk.

Citing the Court’s ruling in the Annunciation House case — brought by Paxton — the governor’s office argues Chapter 66 isn’t a limit on quo warranto petitions and that Abbott and Paxton should both be able to file petitions simultaneously.

Whatever the case, the governor and his attorney general are not on the same page. Abbott’s office did not discuss its filing with Paxton’s office at least since Sunday, when Abbott became the first top official to publicly threaten vacating Democrats’ seats.

Meanwhile, Cornyn’s beef is not with Abbott. It’s with Paxton, who polls show leading the 2026 Senate primary. Cornyn doesn’t have much agency in the state-level quorum battle, but he has capitalized on Paxton’s legal dispute with Abbott.

Cornyn’s campaign is running ads against Paxton’s handling of the quorum break.

“Apparently, the Attorney General disagrees with @POTUS and doesn’t want the FBI’s help despite potential federal offenses, nor from Governor @GregAbbott_TX either,” Cornyn posted. “Problem is, he has abandoned his post and is only available by video from an undisclosed location on a golf vacation in Europe.”

Since then, Paxton has said he is open to the FBI’s involvement. President Donald Trump told reporters that the bureau “may have to” step in. It sounds like they may have, because Cornyn says Director Kash Patel has responded to his request for assistance.

Paxton is also exploring the bribery angle by investigating Powered by People, the Beto O’Rourke PAC that the Tribune’s Owen Dahlkamp reported is partially funding Democrats’ quorum break.

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NO (RESOURCE) WITNESSES

While House Speaker Dustin Burrows and Republicans shame Democrats for jetting off to Illinois, the House is moving forward with the flood response portion of the special session call. But disaster and flooding committee member Joe Moody, a Democrat who stayed behind, is fleshing out his caucus’ case that Gov. Greg Abbott has put flood relief second to redistricting.

The House Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding met yesterday afternoon to consider five bills with the intent of getting them ready for when Democrats return.

“This work is too important to wait on the political games to get over with,” Chair Ken King, R-Canadian, told the committee.

A few minutes into the hearing, Moody asked if anyone from the governor’s office was there as a resource witness.

In past disasters, like the pandemic, the governor has taken action without the Legislature passing a law, the El Paso Democrat asserted. He wanted to ask Abbott’s office questions to ensure that the governor is doing everything he possibly can.

“I think that’s more than a fair request, and we’re making that call right now,” King responded.

As the meeting wound down, Moody followed up to check if the committee ever heard back from the governor’s office.

“I don’t believe we did,” King said. “We were getting some texts for a minute, but we will make sure that in our next meeting they are here.”

With that, Moody again expressed his desire to hear what the governor’s office has done so far, given that it has taken “extraordinary” actions in past crises.

“This is the important work that we’re here to do,” Moody said. “I’m here to do it.”

“Games shouldn’t be played with this topic,” he continued, “and if it needs legislation, we will pass it. If it doesn’t, it needs to be done, now.”

King responded that he doesn’t disagree.

In a statement, Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris told The Blast that the committee didn’t invite the office to speak until the hearing was already underway.

“The governor and his office remain in constant communication and are working closely with lawmakers and their staff since the devastating floods hit last month,” Mahaleris said. “Although the governor’s office was not invited in person to the hearing until it had already begun, we closely monitored the testimony.”

At 4:38 p.m., about halfway through the meeting, Abbott filed his petition to have House Democratic Leader Gene Wu removed from office. One Democrat told The Blast that shows where their priorities are.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also caught some strays in the hearing. House Bill 20 would give the AG’s office additional duties policing organizations that solicit charitable funds during a disaster. However, the attorney general didn’t have a resource witness at the hearing.

“I’m actually a little bit surprised no one’s here from their office,” Moody said.

“Speaker Moody, I share your surprise that the state agencies that are going to be affected by the bills we’re going to pass did not take the time to send somebody to testify on them,” King responded.

The bill’s author, Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, piled on.

“The bill is attempting to add an additional step,” he said, emphasizing the word step, “that the certification process is going to be incurred upon the attorney general’s office to provide that level of inspection and certification that the public’s going to need and deserves.

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NOT QUITE HOW FRANK SINATRA SOLD IT

In Illinois, Democrats are posted up in a hotel that’s really better described as a compound in a charming suburb about an hour west of Chicago’s downtown. The accommodations, which were described by one Democrat as “dated” and another as unspeakable, are leaving a bit to be desired.

The complex boasts several amenities, like running trails and a pickleball court, and it has conference rooms for lawmakers to take meetings and TV hits in. It’s also secure — your Blast contributor was turned away by the hotel at the gate. No press allowed on site, per hotel policy.

So the lodgings check a lot of boxes. Comfort may not be one of them.

According to a photo seen by your Blast contributor, the rooms lawmakers and some staff are staying in are best described as rooms on a cruise ship. They’re small and narrow, with only a twin-size bed (not even twin XL) for weary quorum breakers to lay their heads upon. A sink sits across from their pillows, and a desk area by their feet.

To get an Uber into town, lawmakers have to walk quite a bit to get off campus, then wait at least 10 minutes for a ride out of there — a bit of a tedious ordeal for people trying to make multiple meetings a day with those not staying on the grounds. Hotel rules barring reporters on site have also been frustrating to the press here and Democrats alike.

All in all, Democrats are still fired up despite the lodgings. The town is nice and the weather is far better than in Austin currently.

— Kayla Guo

Note: This item was drafted before the bomb threat Wednesday morning.

• As of Tuesday’s quorum count, House Republicans only need to find four more Democrats to make quorum.

The Senate passed the following bills:

• SB 7: The bathroom bill

• SB 9: The bill for stricter limits on raising property taxes

• SB 15: Stopping title theft and deed fraud

This week:

• The Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting will meet at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday.

View the full list of upcoming committee notices here and here.

The Senate is recessed until 4 p.m. on Thursday.
The House will convene at 1 p.m. on Friday.

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• TX-SEN: Unintentionally omitted in the chaos on Monday was that former Gov. Rick Perry endorsed U.S. Sen. John Cornyn for reelection.

• SD-9: Genevieve Collins of Americans for Prosperity-Texas endorsed former Southlake Mayor John Huffman in the race to succeed now-acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC and Texans United for a Conservative Majority have all endorsed Patriot Mobile executive Leigh Wambsganss.

• Former President Barack Obama promoted a mobilization effort around Texas redistricting set for tomorrow evening.

• Gov. Greg Abbott has put out digital ads against every Democrat who is absent except for Rep. Salman Bhojani, who says he is abroad to be with a family member who is having a medical emergency, and Rep. Senfronia Thompson, the Democratic dean of the House. Even Abbott can’t cross Ms. T.

• Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke will rally in Fort Worth on Saturday against the mid-decade redistricting.

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“Increased attention on Texas House Democratic leader Gene Wu comes with more anti-Asian insults” by Alejandro Serrano of The Texas Tribune

“Then-Sen. John Whitmire restored quorum in 2003, allowing mid-century GOP redistricting of Texas” by Abby Church of the Houston Chronicle

“Bruce Bugg, chair of the Texas Transportation Commission, dead at 70” by Andrea Drusch of the San Antonio Report

“Texas DPS director’s son is still an active trooper weeks after injuring bystander in 101 mph crash” by Benjamin Wermund of the Houston Chronicle

Do you or someone in your office have a birthday you’d like mentioned? Email us.

(Aug. 6) Former state Rep. Shawn Thierry, R-Houston
(Aug. 7) U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin

Belated

(Aug. 5) Robert Duncan, chief of staff to Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows

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