nationwide consequences and it's getting even more urgent as state democratic lawmakers have now fled the state entirely.

They bolted to Illinois, Boston, New York on Sunday, it was a last-ditch effort to delay voting on a new congressional map ordered by President Trump in Texas.

And it would give Republicans another five seats in next year's midterm elections.

We did not make a decision to come here today.

We did not make a decision lightly.

But we come here today with absolute moral clarity,

that this is the absolutely the right thing to do to protect the people of

the state of Texas.

The move denies the Texas legislature a quorum, blocking Republican efforts to pass the new

gerrymandered map during a special session.

Now, Governor Greg Abbott is lashing out, accusing Democratic

lawmakers of abandoning their offices. He's threatening their removal. State Attorney General

Ken Paxton goes even further, suggesting the lawmakers should be arrested, adding, quote,

we should use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they're above the law.

Ramon Romero, your state representative, and y know what's going on right now. This is the fight that we're in. This is the fight that you're in. We didn't start this fight. Donald Trump started it. He asked the Texas legislature to get rid of your voice. So for me, I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to go to work to silence you. And there's going to be a lot of people that that's what they're going to say. They ran away. They don't want to go do their job. If my job is taking away your right to have a vote that matters, I'm not going to do it. There's going to be other people that are going to go to the floor.

It's not going to be me and it's not going to be my colleagues because we know what this means.

This is the destruction of America and the destruction of value of our vote. So you see me?

Look at here. Bye. I'm out, but I'm here for you.

Some of these lawmakers are actually in New York right excuse me, in New York right now as well.

The governor there is supposed to meet with them today as part of all of this.

When it comes to the balance of power in the House, it comes down to just a fraction of a margin,

essentially.

...