Democratic lawmakers in Texas said on Sunday they were leaving the state to deny Republicans the quorum needed to redraw the state's 38 congressional districts, a move Republicans are seeking to protect their narrow U.

Texas Democrats are leaving the state in an attempt to prevent a vote on new congressional maps that Republicans hope will net them additional U.S. House seats.

Democrats in the Texas state House fled the state Sunday afternoon in an attempt to thwart plans by President Trump and Gov. Greg Abbott to redraw the state’s congressional districts to add five new Republican seats.