Gov. Greg Abbott previously asked the court to expel Rep. Gene Wu, the House Democratic leader. Paxton disputed the governor’s authority to make the request.

The political standoff at the Texas Capitol intensified Friday as Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit seeking to remove 13 Democratic state representatives from office over their continued absence from the House floor.

The Texas Supreme Court should vacate the seats of 13 state House Democrats who left the state, Attorney General Ken Paxton argued in petitions filed Friday afternoon. Paxton’s filings, known as quo warranto petitions,