A Texas judge has blocked former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke and his political action committee from funding Democratic state lawmakers who left Texas to hold up a Republican-backed redistricting plan that could add five GOP congressional seats.

Powered by People filed a responding suit against Paxton, claiming the attorney general's investigation violated the group's right to free speech.

A judge temporarily barred O'Rourke's political group from helping to fund Texas Democratic lawmakers who left the state.