Welcome to the NewsHour. Democrats from the Texas House of Representatives have fled the state in order to block the passage of a new congressional map.

The redistricting is a priority for President Trump, but critics call it gerrymandering and election rigging.

Stephanie Sye has more.

In the Texas House of Representatives today.

Members, a quorum is not present.

Gridlock.

The Republican majority had planned to vote through new partisan congressional district

maps, a goal pushed by President Trump and one of the reasons for this special session.

To those who are absent, return now. The people of Texas are watching,

and so is the nation. And if you choose to continue down this road, you should know there will be

consequences. Instead, nearly every Democrat was absent from the chamber, preventing any voting.

This is State Representative Benton Jones, and we're here at the airport preparing to break quorum.

Many of them had fled the state Sunday, posting their protests from the tarmac.

The governor and president has forced redistricting down our throats.

I'm out, but I'm here for you.

They landed in democratic strongholds, like Chicago.

If Donald Trump is allowed to do this, if he is allowed to once again cheat and get

away with it, there's no stopping this.

And Albany.

The fight to protect democracy is not confined to one state.

The fight is for all 50.

Democratic governors welcomed them in Illinois, J.B. Pritzker.

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