Republican Gov. Greg Abbott called a special session to redraw districts and gain five seats at the request of President Trump.

To conduct official business, at least 100 members of the 150-member Texas House must be present. Democrats hold 62 of the seats in the majority-Republican chamber. At least 51 Democratic members are leaving the state, said Josh Rush Nisenson, spokesperson for the House Democratic Caucus.

The walkout was a sharp escalation in the bitterly partisan clash over a congressional redistricting requested by President Trump.