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.

Texas filed a motion for contempt Tuesday against Beto O'Rourke for violating a temporary restraining order barring him from fundraising for Democratic lawmakers who fled the state earlier this month.

Paxton’s request to jail a political rival comes amid calls by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Paxton and their allies to arrest dozens of Democratic state lawmakers who left Texas to prevent Abbott from holding a special session to pass his ultra-partisan redistricting measure — one expected to net Republicans five seats in Congress.