The lawmakers’ absence means the lower chamber won’t have enough members present to function, stalling passage of a draft map Democrats have condemned as a political power grab.

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.

Texas state House Democrats plan to leave to break quorum of a special session in which Republicans aim to pass a new congressional map that could net the GOP five seats.