Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened to arrest state Democrats who obstruct plans to draw new congressional maps, raising the stakes for a controversial effort backed by President Donald Trump as a way of protecting the slim Republican majority in the US House of Representatives.

Actually derailing the redistricting effort, which was one of nearly 20 items added to the special session agenda by Gov. Greg Abbott, would be a herculean lift fraught with risk for legislative Democrats. Delaying the process with a walkout would require strong participation by most of the party's caucus, and could carry steep financial costs.

Voting district maps on the desks of legislators, as part of redistricting efforts in the Senate, at the Texas State Senate on the opening day of the third Special Session of the 87th Legislative ...

The initial drafts of both maps have so far attempted to strengthen Republican majorities by protecting incumbents and creating more GOP-friendly districts.

Voting along party lines, the Texas Senate on Friday approved a redistricting plan for the state's congressional seats that could be instrumental in delivering a Republican majority to the U.S ...