Texas Democrats prepared for a final show of resistance against a Republican effort to redraw the state’s congressional maps mid-decade, signaling plans to speak late into Friday night on the Senate floor in an attempt to delay final passage.

The Texas House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a redistricting bill, paving the way for Republican-drawn maps that could net the GOP as many as five US House seats to be finalized in the coming days.

The vote overcame weeks of protests from House Democrats who fled the state to stall a vote on the mid-cycle redistricting.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Republicans on Wednesday took the first step toward approving new congressional maps that would give their party as many as five new seats in the House of Representatives, spurring what’s likely to be a national battle over redistricting.

Democrats and voting rights advocates have denounced the redistricting effort, which is designed to give the GOP five more seats in the U.S. House.

Trump's Texas fight is aimed at giving the GOP an advantage in 2026 and a lame-duck president more power while in office. Democrats have other plans.

Former President Barack Obama has expressed support for California Governor Gavin Newsom's approach to redistricting.