Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in response accused the lawmakers who left the state of a "deliberate plan not to show up for work, for the specific purpose of abdicating the duties of their office and thwarting the chamber’s business," and warned that they could face the potential loss of their seats and potential legal consequences.

Texas House Democrats left the state in a desperate bid to block an aggressively partisan redrawing of the state’s congressional map orchestrated by Republicans with the support of President Donald Trump.

The map includes redrawn districts that would help defend the Republicans' slim House majority in next year's midterms.