Greg Abbott on Tuesday asked the Texas Supreme Court to remove Houston Rep. Gene Wu, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, from office, an unprecedented escalation in Republicans’ efforts to resume business in the Legislature and advance new congressional maps.

The lawsuit filed with the Texas Supreme Court argues that Rep. Gene Wu violated the state Constitution and that his absence amounted to an abandonment of office.

The chair of the Democratic Caucus in Texas' House of Representatives called Governor Abbott's move "purely insanity."