GEOFF BENNETT: Welcome to the "News Hour."

Democrats from the Texas House of Representatives have fled the state in order to block the passage of a new congressional map.

The redistricting is a priority for President Trump, but critics call it gerrymandering and election rigging.

Stephanie Sy has more.

STEPHANIE SY: In the Texas House of Representatives today: STATE REP. DUSTIN BURROWS (R-TX): Members, a quorum is not present.

STEPHANIE SY: Gridlock.

The Republican majority had planned to vote through new partisan congressional district maps, a goal pushed by President Trump and one of the reasons for this special session.

STATE REP. DUSTIN BURROWS: To those who are absent, return now.

The people of Texas are watching, and so is the nation.

And if you choose to continue down this road, you should know there will be consequences.

STEPHANIE SY: Instead, nearly every Democrat was absent from the chamber, preventing any voting.

STATE REP. VENTON JONES (D-TX): This is state Representative Venton Jones, and we're here at the airport preparing to break quorum.

STEPHANIE SY: Many of them had fled the state Sunday, posting their protests from the tarmac.

STATE REP. VENTON JONES: The governor and president has forced redistricting down our throats.

STATE REP. RAMON ROMERO JR. (D-TX): I'm out, but I'm here for you.

STEPHANIE SY: They landed in Democratic strongholds like Chicago.

STATE REP. GENE WU (D-TX): If Donald Trump is allowed to do this, if he is allowed to once again cheat and get away with it, there's no stopping this.

STEPHANIE SY: And Albany.

STATE REP. MIHAELA PLESA (D-TX): The fight to protect democracy is not confined to one state.

The fight is for all 50.

STEPHANIE SY: Democratic governors welcomed them.

In Illinois, J.B. Pritzker: GOV.

J.B. PRITZKER (D-IL): Let's be clear.

This is not just rigging the system in Texas.

It's about rigging the system against the rights of all Americans for years to come.

STEPHANIE SY: And, in New York, Governor Kathy Hochul, who said if the Texas maps moved forward, she would push her state to redraw its own congressional map to boost Democrats.

GOV.

KATHY HOCHUL (D-NY): If Republicans are willing to rewrite these rules to give themselves an advantage, then they're leaving us no choice.

We must do the same.

STEPHANIE SY: An escalation in a redistricting arms race.

It started with Texas Republicans' plan to axe five Democratic-held U.S. House seats.

Currently, Republicans hold 25 of the state's 38 seats in the chamber.

The proposed map would bring the number of likely Republican-held seats to 30, bolstering the chances of the GOP maintaining control of the House in next year's midterm elections and beyond.

Besides what Democrats see as a brazen power grab, the new map could disproportionately disenfranchise Black and Latino voters.

Republicans, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott, have been quick to fulfill the president's wishes.

GOV.

GREG ABBOTT (R-TX): They're very un-Texan.

Texans don't run from a fight.

STEPHANIE SY: Governor Abbott was on FOX News today.

GOV.

GREG ABBOTT: Because these Democrats have absconded from the responsibility, and I believe they have forfeited their seats in the legislature because they're not doing the job they were elected to do.

STEPHANIE SY: In Austin today, Republicans in the Texas House passed a motion to call the absent members back under warrant of arrest if necessary.

But despite the threats and facing fines of $500 per day, Democrats say they have no intention of returning until the special session ends on August 19.

STEPHANIE SY: For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Stephanie Sy.