Democratic lawmakers on Sunday defended their colleagues' efforts in Texas to counter a GOP-led redistricting push, and chided President Donald Trump and Gov. Greg Abbott over what they argue is "cheating" and "outrageous."

"[Abbott's] the one who is attempting, mid-decade here, at a time when, frankly, all of us are concerned about the future of democracy, he's literally helping whittle it away and licking the boots of his leader, Donald Trump," Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker told NBC News .

Pritzker — whose state has become a haven for Texas Democrats protesting the GOP-led effort — rejected the idea that congressional maps in Illinois are politically gerrymandered, arguing that the maps were redrawn after the census, which, he said, is "how it's done in this country."

"This is ...

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