Texas lawmakers gathered in New York to blast Republicans’ redistricting proposal after more than 50 Texas House Democrats fled the state ahead of a scheduled legislative session on Monday. As the GOP seeks to redraw congressional maps and add as many as five congressional seats in their favor,

The Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) was established by a 2014 voter-approved constitutional amendment designed to take partisanship out of the redistricting process. The goal was to reduce gerrymandering and create fairer, more competitive districts. For years, good-government groups have heralded it as a model of reform.

Governor Kathy Hochul of New York met with Texas Democrats in Albany to discuss opposition to a contentious GOP-favored redistricting plan in Texas that could add five Republican seats.