Republican lawmakers are pursuing the unusual mid-decade redistricting plan amid pressure from President Donald Trump to protect the GOP’s slim majority in the U.S. House.

Texas state Rep. Gene Wu joined a private strategy call on Thursday with Democratic leaders from other GOP-led states that might also redraw their maps.

Democrats are searching for a leader to take on President Trump. Gov. Gavin Newsom embraced that role with new online trolling and a proposed gerrymander to counter a GOP power play in Texas.

The Texas Senate expected to vote Friday to send the GOP majority's gerrymander to the governor's desk for approval.

Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett, the longest-serving member of Texas' congressional delegation, announced Thursday that he will retire instead of run for re-election if new congressional district boundaries aren't rejected in court after state Republicans carved up his Austin-area home district in new maps.

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.

California’s Democratic-controlled legislature just approved a legislative package to advance a new redistricting plan. The move sets up a fall special election that will let voters weigh in on mid-decade redistricting in response to Texas Republicans’ gerrymandered maps.