The governor and attorney general have asked the court to find that Democratic lawmakers abandoned their seats when they left Texas to delay a new congressional map.

The political showdown over a mass quorum break by Texas House Democrats has escalated into a legal dispute now before the state’s highest court.

In a significant escalation of his spat with Texas Democrats who left the state to stop a controversial redistricting vote, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has asked the Texas Supreme Court to remove Rep. Gene Wu, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, from office.