By leaving, Democratic state legislators can stall a Republican plan that would give the GOP five more seats to protect their narrow House majority.

The lawmakers’ absence means the lower chamber won’t have enough members present to function, stalling passage of a draft map Democrats have condemned as a political power grab.

HOUSTON — More than 51 Democratic members of the Texas House of Representatives quietly flew to Chicago on Sunday afternoon, denying quorum in the chamber and temporarily delaying Republican efforts to approve new congressional maps.