Beto O’Rourke on Tuesday called Ken Paxton a “corrupt, lying thug,” after the attorney general said O’Rourke should be “locked up” for defying a judge’s order.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday said prison is on the line for former Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke after he was accused of violating a court order blocking him from funding Democratic lawmakers seeking to thwart the GOP’s redistricting plan.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is escalating the partisan redistricting fight by asking a judge to hold progressive activist Beto O'Rourke in contempt.

Texas state House Democrats who fled the state to prevent a vote on congressional redistricting may be making their return to the Capitol.

Democratic lawmakers from Texas say they’re considering their options amid a report they could return to the state as soon as this weekend, a move that may end a standoff in which more than 50 state representatives left in a bid to block controversial new congressional maps backed by President Donald Trump.

Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton are vying to be the tougher candidate on Democratic lawmakers who left Texas, as potential Democratic rivals seek their own spotlight.