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

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.

Gavin Newsom posted "It's on" on social media. When Texas first launched its redistricting effort, Newsom had vowed to redraw the Golden State's congressional districts to counter the Lone Star State's plan and neutralize any potential GOP gains.

A plan by Texas House Democrats to block a Republican redistricting effort until the complete release of the Jeffrey Epstein files failed on Wednesday.

The vote targets congressional lines ahead of the 2026 midterms in a state where shifts could change control of the House of Representatives.

Democratic Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier on Wednesday interrupted a Zoom call promoting Democratic redistricting fights to say she was being threatened with a felony before abruptly leaving the bathroom where she had been speaking.

More Texas House Democrats spent the night at the state Capitol in Austin in support of Rep. Nicole Collier, who wasn’t allowed to leave the building after she refused to consent to a police escort. Texas House Republican leaders would only allow Democratic lawmakers to return to their homes if they signed waivers allowing law enforcement to shadow them until a vote on redistricting Wednesday.