By then, some Democrats fear it may be too late. Republicans want to gain seats through mid-decade redistricting not only in Texas but in GOP-controlled states such as Florida, Missouri, Ohio, and Indiana. The GOP goal is to secure enough seats to withstand an electoral backlash to Trump’s presidency in next year’s midterms.

As Texas Republicans move ahead with redistricting to protect or even expand the GOP’s slim majority in the US House, Democratic-run states, led by California, are pushing forward with their own efforts to draw new maps and add Democratic seats.

Texas Democrats may have bought their party some time with their walkout, but both parties are mobilizing to redraw U.S. House maps ahead of the midterms.