The risks are big for Texas Democrats — from $500-a-day fines, to extradition, to the more unlikely scenario of Abbott replacing them with hand-picked legislators, to facing civil arrest for violating the Legislature’s rules. They do not, however, face any civil or criminal charges and can only be forced back into the Capitol to take votes.

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he will begin trying to remove Democratic lawmakers from office if they do not return after dozens of them left the state

Texas Governor Greg Abbott threatened on Monday to arrest Democratic lawmakers who are using their collective absence from the state capital to prevent the legislature from adopting a Republican-backed plan for redrawing Texas congressional districts.