The blistering Texas summer is usually a time when candidates announce their campaigns and begin raising money for the election year ahead. This Texas summer has been cooler than normal, and so has the announcement period for some of the high-profile 2026 races.

Democratic lawmakers were expected to return to Texas after fleeing the state for two weeks. Republicans are ready to quickly pass a new congressional map called for by President Trump.

More than 50 Democrats left the state on Aug. 4 in a quorum-breaking move to stop congressional redistricting by stalling official business in the House.

AUSTIN (KXAN)—Dolores Huerta, a labor and human rights activist, is in Austin this weekend, speaking out against Texas’ controversial congressional redistricting maps. Huerta, the 95-year-old co-founder of the United Farm Workers, will join Beto O’Rourke and Congressmen Greg Casar and Lloyd Doggett at a rally at the Capitol on Saturday.

Texas Democrats who oppose a controversial Republican-led redistricting plan appear to be shifting strategy from walkout to holding protest rallies.