The Texas House of Representatives gave final passage on Wednesday to House Bill 4, a controversial Republican-backed proposal to redraw the state's congressional maps and potentially add up to five new GOP-leaning districts.

California Democrats are making moves to put a ballot measure pushing pro-Democratic maps before voters this fall. Other Republican-controlled states are looking at redraws, too.

Former President Barack Obama has waded into states’ efforts at rare mid-decade redistricting efforts, saying he agrees with California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s response to alter his state’s congressional maps, in the way of Texas redistricting efforts promoted by President Donald Trump aimed at shoring up Republicans’ position in next year’s elections.

Former President Barack Obama is supporting California Gov. Gavin Newsom's "measured" approach to redistricting in response to Republican moves in Texas.

Texas House Democrats who fled their state to stall a Republican redistricting effort returned on Monday, ending their 15-day holdout.

The California Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a petition filed by state Republican legislators seeking to halt Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) plan to redistrict California’s

"Trump is trying to steal the 2026 election by rigging the system and changing electoral maps," the event's website states. "We are fighting back."

Trump's push for states to redraw political maps and create more GOP-friendly House seats in time for the 2026 election has raised the stakes.