Gene Wu, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, from office, an unprecedented escalation in Republicans’ efforts to resume business in the Legislature and advance new congressional districts. Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton have threatened to initiate removal proceedings against all Democrats who fled.

PM: Inside Texas Democrats’ plan to seek refuge with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker Texas Democrats knew that if they fled the state to block a Republican plan to redraw the congressional map, they would need blue-state allies.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) and Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin will give remarks to reporters Tuesday morning, as the redistricting fight in Texas shines light on Democrats’ efforts to expand the Voting Rights Act (VRA).

As Texas Republicans move ahead with redistricting to protect or even expand the GOP’s slim majority in the US House, Democratic-run states, led by California, are pushing forward with their own efforts to draw new maps and add Democratic seats.

California Democrats are pushing a plan to redraw the state’s congressional boundaries, a move aimed at countering a Republican redistricting effort in Texas that could help President Donald Trump’s party win more seats in Congress.