After leaving Texas for Illinois to prevent a legislative vote on a Republican redistricting plan, state House Democratic leader Gene Wu needed a means to project his voice — and viewpoints — to a national audience. So he tapped his campaign account to buy a microphone for news conferences.

Democratic lawmakers in Texas left the state to deny Republicans the quorum needed to redraw the state's 38 congressional districts.

PM: Paxton will seek to remove Texas Democrats from office after Friday deadline Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) said Tuesday he will seek court rulings to have state Democratic lawmakers removed from office if they do not return to Texas by a Friday deadline and allow their Republican colleagues to proceed with a redrawing of congressional maps.