HOUSTON - When Republicans gained complete control of the Texas Senate and House in 2002, Sugar Land Rep. and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay started pushing for congressional redistricting that would improve the Texas Republican presence in Washington. That process started in the 2003 legislative session, and Democrats made many of the arguments they're making now about disenfranchising Democratic-leaning voters. Then, as now, when they could not beat the measure, House Democrats escaped to Oklahoma until time ran out for the bill to proceed. Later, in a special session, Senate Democrats went to New Mexico, where they stayed until the session ended.

Then-Governor Rick Perry called a subsequent special session, and the new map was approved.

The maps, largely, survived legal challenges

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