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.

Texas Republicans insisted that Democrats have around-the-clock police escorts to ensure they wouldn’t leave again.

Multiple Texas House Democrats will spend the night inside the Texas House chamber to protest law enforcement escorts that have been following them around to ensure they show up to the Capitol on Wednesday.

After two weeks out of state, Democratic lawmakers returned to Austin, paving the way for Republicans to pass their proposed congressional map.

The Texas House will vote today on a controversial redistricting plan that was delayed for two weeks by Democratic lawmakers who left the state in protest. NBC News’ Ryan Chandler reports the latest from Austin.

After Democrats spent several weeks delaying a vote, the Texas House is poised to vote on new congressional district that could help Republicans win several Democratic seats.

Republican lawmakers are pursuing the unusual mid-decade redistricting plan amid pressure from President Donald Trump to protect the GOP’s slim majority in the U.S. House.

North Carolina farmer Jamie Ager is part of a new crop of Democratic candidates the party is turning to as it tries to compete in the tough, often rural districts it may need to flip to retake the U.S.