Paxton said he would begin asking Texas courts on Friday to remove the Democrats if they do not return to Austin. “Democrats have abandoned their offices by fleeing Texas, and a failure to respond to a call of the House constitutes a dereliction of their duty as elected officials,

Most Democrats who left the state to stop the redistricting effort are showing no signs they will come back to Texas. Republicans are escalating their threats, with Gov. Greg Abbott going to court to request the removal of a Houston lawmaker from office.