Overview

• The Texas House reconvened Monday after a two‑week Democratic walkout, met briefly without taking up bills, and is scheduled to return Wednesday.
• Republicans are pressing a congressional map aimed at roughly five additional GOP‑leaning seats, after a Senate redistricting committee approved a draft along party lines Sunday.
• Democrats said they returned to build a legal record and will challenge the maps in court, following fines of up to $500 per missed legislative day and civil arrest warrants during the standoff.
• California Democrats unveiled a countermapping plan that could add about five Democratic seats and are moving to place it before voters in a November 4 statewide referendum.
• With only several dozen competitive U.S. House districts and a narrow GOP majority, even small map shifts in Texas and California could help determine control of the chamber in 2026.