Eric Flores enters race for Texas' 34th Congressional District, a battleground that President Donald Trump won by five points, challenging Democratic incumbent Vicente Gonzalez.

Republicans currently hold 25 of Texas' seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, while Democrats have 13 seats.

Actually derailing the redistricting effort, which was one of nearly 20 items added to the special session agenda by Gov. Greg Abbott, would be a herculean lift fraught with risk for legislative Democrats. Delaying the process with a walkout would require strong participation by most of the party's caucus, and could carry steep financial costs.

The NRSC wants to focus on Ken Paxton's alleged infidelities. But what about other leading party officials who've faced similar allegations?

In 2003, just three years after the decennial census, Texas Republicans developed a proposal to redraw that state’s congressional boundaries so provocative it caused 52 House Democrats to charter a bus to Oklahoma to prevent the Legislature from having the quorum needed to approve the plan.

In 2001, the Texas legislature deadlocked on new congressional maps.

The window for Texas to directly strengthen Democrats’ national position might be opening sooner than expected.