Meanwhile, Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz returned to his home in Houston Thursday, a day after his family fled to Mexico to escape the blackout and winter cold. Text messages show Cruz’s wife complained the family’s home was ”FREEZING” and invited others to join the family at the Ritz-Carlton in Cancún. On Thursday, Senator Cruz defended his actions as he prepared to board a flight back to Texas.

Sen. Ted Cruz: “Yesterday, my daughters asked if they could take a trip with some friends, and Heidi and I agreed, so I flew down with them last night, dropped them off here, and now I’m headed back to Texas and back continuing to work to try to get the power on.”

Senator Cruz was initially booked to stay in Mexico until Saturday. He was met by protesters calling for his resignation at Houston’s airport — and in the bitter cold outside his home.