Greg Abbott doubled down on his promise to expel Texas Democrats from the legislature if they do not return to the state for its ongoing special session, where Republicans are working to push through a new congressional map that gives the GOP five more favorable seats ahead of the midterms.

President Donald Trump defended Republican efforts to redraw Texas' congressional maps that would add five GOP seats, saying Democratic-leaning states have also used gerrymandering to tilt the scales in their party's favor.