Texas Democrats have ended a two-week walkout that stalled efforts to redraw congressional districts as part of a national partisan brawl over President Donald Trump's desire to reshape U.S. House maps to his advantage. Their return Monday to the Texas Capitol will allow the Republican-run Legislature to proceed as California Democrats' advance a countereffort to redraw their congressional boundaries in retaliation. The tit-for-tat puts the nation's two most populous states at the center of an expanding fight over control of Congress ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Texas and California have been at the forefront of a national fight to reshape the congressional landscape.

Texas Republicans have ended a legislative session without approving new congressional maps but quickly began another intended to satisfy President Donald Trump's wishes for redistricting that bolsters the GOP. Democrats blocked the plan by leaving the state during a special session that Republicans adjourned on Friday. They immediately began another. Meanwhile, California Democrats are preparing to counter Republican gains in Texas. The redistricting battle has become a national issue, with both states at the forefront. California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced a special election to approve redrawn districts. Texas Democrats have indicated they would return to Austin only after California more formally begins its process to counter Republicans.

Texas Democrats have moved closer to ending a nearly two-week walkout that has blocked the GOP's redrawing of U.S. House maps before the 2026 election. On Thursday, Democrats announced they will return if Texas Republicans end a special session and California releases its own redrawn map proposal. Both were expected to happen Friday. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott still intends to push through new maps that would give the GOP five more winnable seats before next year's midterm elections. Texas House Democrats say they need to return to build a strong public legislative record for an upcoming legal battle against a new map.

Texas Republicans were unable again Monday to approve new congressional districts to meet President Donald Trump's demands. Dozens of Democrats remain outside the state, denying their GOP colleagues the attendance required to vote on the president's maps. The standoff is now into its second week and has spread to multiple states. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is asking President Donald Trump to stop his push or else his Democratic state will answer. Republicans are trying to redraw five U.S. House districts at Trump's urging. The president is looking for ways to bolster the chance that the GOP will keep control of Congress in the 2026 elections.

The Texas House of Representatives has failed to meet a quorum for the third time this week as Democratic lawmakers continue their walkout to block a vote on congressional voting maps sought by President Donald Trump in a widening national battle over redistricting. Texas Republicans had warned they would escalate efforts to end the nearly weeklong holdout if defiant Democrats don't return to the state Capitol. But the Democrats who bolted for points across the country on Aug. 3 still didn't come back for Friday's scheduled House floor vote. The 150-member House failed to meet the minimum 100 needed to conduct business. Only 95 lawmakers were counted as present.

For the second day in a row, Texas Democrats prevented their state's House of Representatives from moving forward, at least for now, with a redrawn congressional map sought by President Donald Trump. Texas and California are at the center of a national political power struggle that could reshape Trump's second presidency. In California, the state's dominant Democrats are maneuvering to counter Trump's Texas play by boosting Democratic House seats in the liberal-leaning state. The rivalry tugging at the nation's political balance is playing out in advance of the 2026 midterm elections. The Texas map would shore up Republicans' midterm prospects as the president's political standing slumps. Texas Republicans will attempt to convene the House again on Friday.

Texas Democrats successfully prevented their state's House of Representatives from moving forward with a redrawn congressional map sought by President Donald Trump to shore up Republicans' 2026 midterm prospects as his political standing falters. After dozens of Democrats left the state, the Republican-dominated House was unable Monday to establish the quorum of lawmakers required to do business. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has made threats about removing some members of the opposition from their seats. Democrats have countered that Abbott is using "smoke and mirrors" to assert legal authority he does not have.