The Texas House voted 88-52 along party lines on Wednesday to pass the map that Republicans say will strengthen their slim majority in Washington ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Democrats

The national redistricting battle enters its next phase Thursday as California Democrats are scheduled to pass a new congressional map that creates five winnable seats for their party, a direct counter to the Texas House's approval of a new map to create more conservative-leaning seats in that state.

Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier spent the night in the Austin statehouse and plans to stay there until Wednesday's session after refusing a police escort.

Democratic Texas State Rep. Nicole Collier spent Monday night on the state's House floor after refusing Texas Republicans' demands.

Rep. Nicole Collier’s overnight stay stemmed from Republicans in the Texas House requiring returning Democrats to sign what the Democrats called “permission slips,” agreeing to around-the-clock surveillance by state Department of Public Safety officers to leave the floor. Collier, of Fort Worth, refused and remained on the House floor Monday night.

The Wichita Falls home was commissioned by Walter D. Cline, a "wildcatter" and self-made oil baron. See photos of the historical home and learn about Cline's legacy.

On Monday, House Democrats announced they were back in Austin. With their return, the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature will likely move quickly to pass a new map of the state’s congressional districts.

The Texas House is scheduled to try convening a quorum again at noon, with absent Democrats expected to return.