Democratic state lawmakers have fled Texas in an attempt to stop a vote on a new congressional map that would heavily favour Republicans.
The map, unveiled by Texas Republicans earlier in the week and backed by President Donald Trump, contains redrawn districts that would help preserve the party’s slim majority in the US House of Representatives.
Two-thirds of the 150-member Texas House must be present in order to hold a vote. Fifty-one Democratic lawmakers have fled to Chicago, denying Republicans the required quorum.
They said they plan to stay away for two weeks until the end of a special legislative session convened by Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott to hold the vote.
Each of the 51 lawmakers could face a $500 (£380) fine for each day they are away, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, had previously threatened to arrest legislators who break quorum.
In a statement to media, Texas Democrats defended the move.
“We’re not walking out on our responsibilities,” said Texas state legislator and chairman of the Democratic caucus Gene Wu.
“We’re walking out on a rigged system that refuses to listen to the people we represent.”
The redrawn map could win Republicans five more congressional seats in areas where Trump had made gains during the 2024 presidential election.
It includes a redistricting of the Rio Grande Valley, as well as combining two Austin districts currently held by Democrats.
In northern Texas, the new map would expand a district currently held by Democratic House representative Julie Johnson to include rural Republican strongholds.
It would also redraw four Houston-area seats, including one held by Democratic congressman Al Green.
