Greg Abbott has raised the stakes in a heightening political showdown-calling for the removal of Texas Rep. Gene Wu (D- Houston) from office. Wu was one of dozens Democratic lawmakers who fled the state last week to halt a vote on proposed redistricting measures.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has asked the state Supreme Court on Tuesday to remove from office a top state lawmaker he called the “ringleader” of Democrats who left the state to block a vote on a new congressional voting map pushed by President Donald Trump.