Republican Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick defended Texas’s effort to redistrict in the name of “more representation” for what he referred to as his “red state.” 

Roughly 50 Democratic lawmakers left Texas over the weekend to break the Texas House quorum. This exodus was their attempt to prevent the vote on redistricting. 

Patrick appeared on Fox News’s Hannity on Tuesday, demanding their return as the legislature has another 17 bills to vote on and cannot act until they return. One of the bills includes legislation on flooding procedures, which is Patrick’s “number one priority.” However, Patrick defended the new map, saying it could win “five” more seats for the Republican Party.

“There’s nothing they can do to stop us. And I challenge them, come back and do the right thing. Don’t run and hide because you’ve lost touch with the voters,” Patrick said.

“Their problem[s] are not redistricting lines. Their problem is they’ve lost the minds of their voters, who are moving towards the Republican Party all over the country. We are a red state, and we deserve more representation.”

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The Texas House is about halfway through its 30-day special session. Patrick promised that these bills will be voted on eventually, speculating that it could be as late as October if necessary.

Since a vote on redistricting was scheduled for Monday, the Texas House passed a motion calling for the arrest of the absent Democratic lawmakers because the chamber failed to reach a quorum to vote. Even though the chamber scheduled another vote on Tuesday, these lawmakers remained in Illinois and Massachusetts.