HOUSTON — More than 51 Democratic members of the Texas House of Representatives quietly flew to Chicago on Sunday afternoon, denying quorum in the chamber and temporarily delaying Republican efforts to approve new congressional maps .

In a statement Sunday afternoon, members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus said they were left with “no other option” but to take the "extraordinary and necessary" step of leaving the state and denying quorum.

Rep. Gene Wu, chair of the caucus, said in part, “This is not a decision we make lightly, but it is one we make with absolute moral clarity. Governor Abbott has turned the victims of a historic tragedy into political hostages in his submission to Donald Trump. He is using an intentionally racist map to steal the voices of millions of Black and

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