The Texas House voted 88-52 along party lines on Wednesday to pass the map that Republicans say will strengthen their slim majority in Washington ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Democrats

Texas House Democrats returned to the Capitol this week, touting their two-week quorum break as a success “beyond their wildest dreams” and pledging to advance the fight against a redistricting bill that could net Republicans five congressional seats in next year’s midterm elections.

Republicans feel they have supporting legal opinions to make the changes, but Democrats spent the day arguing the bill breaks up communities of color.

While Gov. Greg Abbott blasted through a Democratic blockade and advanced a new congressional map, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is eying a new map in his state.

Former President Barack Obama said Tuesday that he supported a proposal by California Democrats to redraw congressional lines in response to a Republican-led push in Texas to gain additional US House seats but expressed unease with the broader effects of political gerrymandering.

The redistricting fight returned to the Texas House. Lawmakers wasted no time pressing each other on the details.

A Texas Democrat has stayed overnight at the state Capitol to protest how the Texas House’s top Republican had dozens of her colleagues shadowed.