The Texas Senate approved new Republican-drawn congressional maps Tuesday night despite an ongoing walkout by House Democrats aimed at halting the redistricting process.

Senators passed the maps in a 19-2 vote after nine Democrats left the floor in protest. Two Democrats — Judith Zaffirini of Laredo and Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa of McAllen — remained in the chamber, giving Republicans the quorum needed to proceed.

The proposed maps are projected by Republicans to create five additional GOP-leaning districts if enacted.

“This mid-decade redistricting isn’t about fair representation—it’s about politicians picking their voters instead of voters choosing their leaders,” the Senate Democratic Caucus said in a statement, according to The Texas Tribune. “And it doesn’t stop here. If they can gerrymander now, they can and will do it before every election.”

The House remains at a standstill. Nearly all Democratic representatives have fled the state to block a quorum and prevent the maps from coming to a vote. Without their return, the measure cannot advance to the governor’s desk.

Civil arrest warrants have been issued by the House Republican majority to compel absent members back to Austin. The warrants carry no criminal penalty and are enforceable only within state lines.

Attorney General Ken Paxton said, “I am prepared to do everything in my power to hold them accountable because these liberal lawmakers are not above the law. It’s imperative that they be swiftly arrested, punished, and face the full force of the law for turning their backs on the people of Texas.” He added that he will “continue to use every legal tool at his disposal to enforce the law.”

Republicans argue the new maps are needed to address concerns raised by the Trump administration that Texas was out of compliance with the Voting Rights Act. Critics contend the changes dilute minority voting power.

State Sen. Mayes Middleton told Fox News Digital: “Literally, this redistricting bill could save this entire nation. This is why this fight is so important to me. I will fight with everything in me to make sure that this map becomes law, and we get those five more Republican seats … It could literally save America.” He called Democrats’ challenge “meritless.”

The impasse follows earlier high-profile quorum breaks in Texas politics, including a 2021 flight to Washington, D.C., by House Democrats to oppose a GOP-backed election reform bill.