Texas Republicans are moving closer to approving new congressional maps amid a Democratic show of protest over the GOP House speaker’s order that members who fled the state weeks earlier be placed under law enforcement watch.

The state House is set to reconvene Wednesday as Republicans push ahead with their Trump-backed redistricting plan, which would create five more GOP-leaning House districts in time for next year’s midterm elections. The House could vote Wednesday and the Senate as early as Thursday. It’s not yet clear exactly when the House will vote, however, and a lengthy floor debate could delay the process.

Relegated to the minority, Democrats have no viable way to stop passage of the maps, but have continued to protest GOP tactics to prevent them from leaving the state again.

See Full Page