Former President Donald Trump on Monday called on the Texas Legislature to "pass this map, ASAP," after Democratic lawmakers returned to Austin, ending a two-week walkout that had denied the chamber a quorum. The Republican-backed proposal could add as many as five GOP-leaning congressional districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, when the party’s House majority is expected to be razor-thin. Governor Greg Abbott immediately convened a second special session after the first ended without action on the map. The state Senate has already approved the measure, leaving final passage up to the House, where Democrats had fled to block a vote. Abbott has warned he will keep calling special sessions until a map is adopted. California is preparing a counter-move. Governor Gavin Newsom last week endorsed legislation that would bypass the state’s independent commission and create up to five additional Democratic-friendly districts, contingent on voter approval in a November referendum. Newsom said the effort is intended to "meet fire with fire" in response to the Texas plan. The clash underscores a wider, fast-moving redistricting battle. Republican leaders in Florida, Ohio and Missouri have signaled interest in revisiting their maps, while Democratic officials in states such as New York and Maryland are exploring ways to offset potential GOP gains. With control of the U.S. House resting on a handful of seats, both parties are racing to shape the electoral map before ballots are cast in 2026.