Texas Senate approves Republican-drawn redistricting maps in 19-2 vote as nine Democrats walk out in protest while House Democrats remain out of state.

Democrats' absence has halted work in the Texas House, which must also approve the new boundaries, for more than a week.

The Texas Senate passed a GOP-friendly House map on Tuesday, putting it a step closer to final passage in the state Legislature. The upper chamber voted 19-2 to pass a new set of congressional lines that would give Republicans five pickup opportunities in the U.