Gov. Greg Abbott's bid to remove Democratic lawmakers from office hit a dead end Friday when the Texas Supreme Court declined to intervene in the redistricting standoff that forced lawmakers to flee the state last year.

The court's ruling came after Democrats broke quorum by leaving for Chicago in early August, delaying Republican redistricting efforts that President Trump had pushed. Republican leaders retaliated with fines and warrants. Chief Justice James D. Blacklock, an Abbott appointee, wrote that judicial action proved unnecessary because quorum returned within two weeks through "political and practical forces."

The all-Republican court dodged the deeper question of whether breaking quorum constitutes grounds for expulsion. Abbott's spokesman, Andrew Mahaleris, claimed the governor's legal pressure forced Democrats back — and warned he would repeat the tactic. Democratic leader Gene Wu dismissed the threat, saying Abbott "couldn't come and take a damn thing."