Lawmakers are now framing their ability to prevent new maps from passing during one special legislative session as a victory. But Republicans are poised to call another.

Gov. Greg Abbott has called a second special session for 19 agenda items as Texas' redistricting showdown rages on.

If those conditions are met, the Texas House Democratic Caucus said Democratic lawmakers will return to the Texas House.

Former President Barack Obama on Thursday joined a virtual meeting with Texas House Democrats who left the state to deny Republicans the ability to pass newly drawn GOP-favorable congressional maps, cheering on their efforts and stressing their work comes at a critical time in the fight against partisan gerrymandering.

Democrats have struggled to find effective ways to oppose President Donald Trump, and even some Democratic voters describe the party as weak.

Voters in Yuba-Sutter could soon swap representatives for the third time since 2020 as the majority-conservative area enters the crosshairs of redistricting efforts that could pus