Some Texas Republicans and Democrats were set to announce campaigns for 2026, but the fight over redistricting and two special legislative sessions put

Democratic lawmakers who fled their state to stymie Republican plans to redraw political maps at the behest of President Donald Trump announced on Monday they were "returning to Texas on our terms," as the battle lines harden 15 months before the U.

The Amarillo businessman said he would tap into the $20 million political action committee he launched last year to preserve ballot access for censured Republicans.

They already have more power than the vote totals justify,” Scudder said. “This isn’t about fairness — it’s about locking in control.”

In the Texas legislature, the first special session ended abruptly Friday after Democrats in the House refused to come back and allow a vote on redrawn congressional maps.

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