The Texas Legislature began a new special legislative session Friday after Gov. Greg Abbott called lawmakers back to deal with congressional redistricting and a host of other issues — laying down a new gauntlet for Democrats who fled the state nearly two weeks ago to halt a vote on a new district map.

Gov. Greg Abbott has called a second special session for 19 agenda items as Texas' redistricting showdown rages on.

Texas' $51 billion property tax cut could save homeowners $500 a year-if voters approve it in November. But redistricting debate may drown it out.

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

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -California Governor Gavin Newsom led a campaign-style rally on Thursday for a redistricting plan to foil what he called President Donald Trump's bid to rig the next congressional race and cement his Republican House majority by redrawing the political map of Texas.