AG Paxton Takes Action Against Runaway Democrats
August 6, 2025 | Austin, TX
Texas Supreme Court Filings
Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken action in the Supreme Court of Texas regarding the quo warranto petition filed by Governor Greg Abbott against runaway Democrat Representative Gene Wu.
Attorney General Paxton has led the fight to hold runaway Democrats accountable for breaking quorum and preventing the Legislature from addressing major issues facing Texas. Pursuant to the authority invested in the Office of the Attorney General by Texas law, Attorney General Paxton announced that he will pursue judicial orders declaring that House members who fail to return to the state by the deadline set by Speaker of the Texas House Dustin Burrows have vacated their seats. Attorney General Paxton has asked the Texas Supreme Court not to dismiss the Governor’s filing until the Speaker’s deadline, when the Attorney General can be heard on this important issue.
“Texas is taking every available avenue to force runaway Democrats to return to Texas and hold them accountable for breaking quorum,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Under the Texas Constitution and Texas law, the Office of the Attorney General has the legal authority to bring these cases against the renegade House members. I have alerted the Texas Supreme Court that I will be making additional filings on Friday if the Democrats continue to abandon their legislative duties.”
The letter explained: “[T]his 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.’ In re Dallas County, 697 S.W.3d 142, 152 (Tex. 2024) (orig. proceeding). Further, the Constitution charges ‘the Attorney General’ with the obligation ‘to represent the State in all suits and pleas in the Supreme Court of the State in which the State may be a party.’ … As a result, the Court should not dismiss the Governor’s petition until the Speaker’s Friday deadline passes and the Attorney General can be heard on these weighty issues.”
To read the letter, click here.
Investigation into Beto O’Rourke’s Radical Group for Unlawfully Funding Runaway Democrats
Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into Beto O’Rourke’s radical organization, Powered by People, for unlawful activity, including potentially operating an illegal financial influence scheme to bribe runaway Democrats who fled Texas to break quorum.
“Any Democrat coward breaking the law by taking a Beto Bribe will be held accountable,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Texas cannot be bought. I look forward to thoroughly reviewing all of the documents and communications obtained throughout this investigation. These jet-setting runaways have already lost public trust by abandoning our state, and Texans deserve to know if they received illegal bribes to do it.”
According to public reports, Powered by People has been one of the top groups bankrolling the Texas House Democrat members who abandoned Texans and vacated their offices. By providing these liberal lawmakers with the funds to flee the state, Powered by People may have violated bribery laws. Powered by People and the runaway Democrats may have also violated other Texas laws, including, but not limited to, those governing campaign or officeholder contributions and expenditures, coercion of a public servant, and abuse of office.
As part of the investigation, Attorney General Paxton has issued a Request to Examine, which demands documents and communications from the group regarding potentially unlawful activity, including its involvement in the Democrats’ scheme to break quorum.
Attorney General Paxton has announced that he will take aggressive legal action against runaway Democrats who do not present themselves before the House by the Speaker’s deadline of Friday.