Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is asking a California court to recognize civil warrants issued in Texas calling for the arrest and return of House Democrats that left the state to break quorum and prevent a vote on redrawn congressional maps.

The political standoff at the Texas Capitol intensified Friday as Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit seeking to remove 13 Democratic state representatives from office over their continued absence from the House floor.

Gov. Greg Abbott previously asked the court to expel Rep. Gene Wu, the House Democratic leader. Paxton disputed the governor’s authority to make the request.