The Supreme Court has ruled that judges are powerless to review partisan gerrymandering. But courts can still enforce the Voting Rights Act provisions that protect minorities' voting power.

The backstory between Abbott, who is attempting to bulldoze the new congressional map through his state’s legislature, and Pritzker, who’s provided a safe haven for the Democratic lawmakers who have fled Texas and championed their prerogatives, dates back to 2022.

Both Texas Republicans and Democrats are ratcheting up their rhetoric over proposed US House maps that could give the GOP five more seats. But the action in Austin is stalled for now.