The political showdown over a mass quorum break by Texas House Democrats has escalated into a legal dispute now before the state’s highest court

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday petitioned the state Supreme Court to remove Houston Rep. Gene Wu, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, from office, a dramatic and unprecedented move in Republicans’ push to restart legislative activity and approve new congressional maps.

Texas Governor Abbott files a Supreme Court petition for the removal of Rep. Gene Wu after Wu helped break quorum.