Texas Democratic lawmakers expected to confront many uncertainties when they left the state in a last-ditch attempt to block Republicans from pushing through a new congressional map.

Texas Democrats stand to be fined nearly $400,000 for fleeing the state in a gambit to stop Republican-led redistricting. And should they stay away during potential successive legislative sessions this year, they’d face more than $3.2 million in penalties.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) defended GOP redistricting efforts, saying Republicans “deserve” more seats in Congress because the Lone Star State is a red state. In an interview on Fox News’s “Hannity” Tuesday evening, Patrick slammed Democrats for fleeing the state in a bid to block passage of a new Congressional map that would…