Texas leaders are trying to force a vote on a new congressional map that heavily favors Republicans — teeing up a showdown with dozens of Democrats in the state.

Texas Republicans have threatened to remove from office dozens of Democrats who fled the state to fight a Republican redistricting plan. More than 50 Democrats left Texas to block a quorum, preventing lawmakers from voting on the plan pushed by President Donald Trump.

The redistricting battle in Texas continues to escalate as Republican Gov. Greg Abbott urged the state Supreme Court to remove state Rep. Gene Wu, the chairman of the Texas House Democratic caucus.Abbott argued that Wu has "forfeited" his office by fleeing the state along with other Democratic lawmakers to prevent the quorum necessary for Texas House to vote on enacting the new GOP-proposed congressional map -- with Republican control of the U.