Texas House Democrats who fled their state to stall a Republican redistricting effort returned on Monday, ending their 15-day holdout.

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.

The California Senate on Thursday was set to act on newly drawn political maps aimed at giving Democrats five more seats in Congress, countering a partisan advantage President Donald Trump hopes to gain from a Republican redistricting plan in Texas.

The California Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected an effort by Republican legislators to delay Democrats from gerrymandering the state's congressional districts. The justices said the legal challenge, filed earlier this week, "failed to meet their burden of establishing a basis for relief at this time under" the California Constitution.

Democratic allies say walkout effectively drew national attention, as legislature begins second special session to pass redistricting

Opinion: Indiana should use a special census to legitimize Trump's redistricting push Why do I bring up this story, besides the fact that it’s adorable (which, honestly, might be reason enough)? Because I’d like to remind our Republican state ...

"Trump is trying to steal the 2026 election by rigging the system and changing electoral maps," the event's website states. "We are fighting back."

Trump's push for states to redraw political maps and create more GOP-friendly House seats in time for the 2026 election has raised the stakes.