Democrats who left the state have shown no signs of buckling for now: A group was scheduled to appear later Friday with California Gov. Gavin Newsom in a public show of support for the walkout.

"These cowards deliberately sabotaged the constitutional process and violated the oath they swore to uphold," Paxton said in a statement.

Texas Republicans on Friday sought to increase the pressure on more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who left the state to prevent a vote on a new congressional map, announcing that absent state House members can only collect paychecks by appearing in person.