HOUSTON, United States

More than 50 Democratic lawmakers from Texas remain out of that US state Monday in a gerrymandering case where they are trying to prevent a Republican-led vote on congressional redistricting, according to media reports.

Due to their departure, Republican leaders also voted Monday to approve civil arrest warrants for Democrats who fled the state.

"They've shirked their responsibilities under the direction and pressure of out-of-state politicians and activists who don't know the first thing about what's right for Texas," Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows said in a statement, adding they have "abandoned their post and turned their backs on the constituents they swore to represent."

"Leaving the state does not stop this House from doing its work. It only delays it," said Burrows.

The special legislative session for the redistricting vote cannot last more than 30 days, but Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has the authority to indefinitely call new special sessions.

The Democratic leaders flew to Chicago on Sunday to deny the necessary amount of lawmakers needed to pass the Republican-led proposal on new congressional maps in the southern state, which could help the conservative political party gain up to five additional seats in the US House of Representatives during midterm elections next year.

The political maneuver, which was undertaken by most of the Texas House of Representatives’ 62 Democrats, renders the chamber useless, as the 150-member House can only conduct business if at least 100 members are present. Therefore, the absence of 51 or more Democrats literally halts the state legislature's special session to conduct the redistricting vote.

"This is not a decision we make lightly, but it is one we make with absolute moral clarity," said House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Gene Wu in a statement.

Wu accused Abbott of "using an intentionally racist map to steal the voices of millions of Black and Latino Texans, all to execute a corrupt political deal," one supported by President Donald Trump.

Abbott fired back at the Democrats, threatening to remove them from office if they do not return to the state and take part in the special legislative session.

"Real Texans do not run from a fight," he said in a statement. "But that's exactly what most of the Texas House Democrats just did."

Abbott added that it was their "duty" to be present and that it was not "optional."

"The absconded Democrat House members were elected to meet and vote on legislation -- not to prevent votes that may not go their way," he continued, warning that the Democrats must return to the state to be in attendance for the vote or he will work to "remove the missing Democrats from membership in the Texas House" for "abandonment" of their duties.

Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin stepped in to back the Texas Democratic lawmakers' move.

"Texas Democrats are doing their job, showing leadership, and fighting back against this craven Republican power grab," Martin said in a statement. "We're not backing down."

Adding another political wrinkle to the gerrymandering case, Democrats have accused Republicans of using the redistricting vote to gain leverage on taking up measures related to funding and relief efforts for the deadly July 4 flooding in Kerr County, which killed at least 135 people.

"While flood victims in Kerr County plead for support, Texas Republicans are playing political games and bending the knee to Trump in his ploy to disenfranchise voters of color and rig the maps," said Martin.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker vowed to protect the Texas Democratic lawmakers in his state from Abbott's demand for their extradition to take part in the redistricting vote.

"Donald Trump is trying to cheat the system in Texas, but these Democratic legislators refuse to let it happen without a fight," Pritzker said in a statement, adding that his administration is "going to do everything we can to protect every single one of them."

Martin and Pritzker will join Texas Democrats on Tuesday for a news conference in Chicago to address the gerrymandering case.

In the meantime, the DNC has recruited 30,000 volunteers to embark on a campaign to text and inform Texas voters of the Republicans' efforts to redraw congressional maps in the state.