Democratic members slammed the process, questioning why hearings were happening before maps were available for review. Chair Cody Vasut said follow-up public hearings will be scheduled once maps are filed.

Martin is seeking to replace the late Rep. Sylvester Turner, who died on March 5, as the Texas’ 18th Congressional District representative.

Speaking to two dozen state lawmakers, a packed hearing room, two overflow rooms and a robust virtual waiting room, Texans condemned the Legislature’s plan to redraw the state’s congressional map at the House redistricting committee’s first public meeting on Thursday.

The bills would carry a $5,000 fine for a first-time violation and comes as momentum for such restrictions has increased in the state and nationally.

The majority of House Republicans — 53 out of 87 members — occupy a middle ground between these two ideological poles, ranging from Brooks Landgraf of Odessa to Valoree Swanson of Spring.

The severity of the flash flooding that killed more than 130 people in Texas's Hill Country was difficult to predict, officials said Wednesday.

The meeting kicked off with Democratic House members and other attendees expressing their criticisms of the sudden move from the White House and the Governor’s Office, adding that no new proposed map was sent to representatives to discuss.

With an extraordinary call by President Donald Trump to push Texas lawmakers to redraw congressional maps in favor of Republicans, Governor JB Pritzker said he’ll lead the way to do the same in Illinois for Democrats if need be. On Friday, Pritzker hosted a delegation from Texas to strategize.

President Donald Trump said he believes Texas can squeeze out five more Republican seats in the U.S. House to shore up the GOP majority ahead of the midterms.