Democratic leaders say they will return for a second special legislative session after seeing California Democratic leaders proceed with plans to redraw their own US House maps to neutralize Republican gains in Texas.

The former president lent his support to Gov. Gavin Newsom's retaliatory redistricting plan shortly before Republicans in Texas passed their bill to redraw congressional lines.

Former President Barack Obama has waded into states’ efforts at rare mid-decade redistricting efforts, saying he agrees with California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s response to alter his state’s congressional maps, in the way of Texas redistricting efforts promoted by President Donald Trump aimed at shoring up Republicans’ position in next year’s elections.

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.

Other Democratic lawmakers have joined a colleague in staying at the Texas Capitol rather than accept around-the-clock police escorts meant to prevent them from blocking a vote on a Republican plan for redrawing congressional districts.

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.

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.