Texas Democratic lawmakers who left the state to block a Republican plan for congressional redistricting are pleading for donations to help cover their costs.

During a special committee meeting on Congressional redistricting on Thursday (August 7), Texas Senate Republican Phil King and Democrat Borris Miles took part in a heated debate over adopting a new redistricting map championed by U.

The Texas redistricting confrontation spawned a bomb threat in Illinois on Wednesday, along with threats of a federal dragnet to bring the absent lawmakers back. Democratic Texas State Rep. Ann Johnson and Republican Texas State Rep.

Barack Obama called Texas Republicans' push to add five new Republican congressional seats "a power grab that undermines our democracy."

A Republican redistricting effort in Texas could lead to the GOP picking up five new seats in the House of Representatives, boosting Republican chances of maintaining control of Congress.

In a preview clip of Friday's "Ruthless" podcast," Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to create up to eight new seats for his party if Democratic state lawmakers don't return.