The state House has reconvened on Wednesday as GOP lawmakers in the Lone Star State look to push ahead with a newly redrawn congressional map designed for Republicans to pick up five U.S. House seats ahead of the 2026 midterms. The plan, known as House Bill 4, could come to a vote on Wednesday in the House and as early as Thursday in the Senate.

Texas state representative Nicole Collier (D) compared herself and her peers to runaway slaves, as well as Jews during the Holocaust this week.

The situation is an opportunity for the speaker to bolster his credibility with the right, but he has limited tools to combat a prolonged Democratic absence.

Burrows also asked DPS to create a tip line to receive leads from the public about missing Democrats if they are physically in Texas: 866-786-5972. He also said missing Democrats will be covering all of DPS’ costs.

After two weeks fleeing the state, many Texas House Democrats returned, and a quorum was reached on Monday. More than two dozen Democrats still didn’t show up and civil arrest warrants remain in effect.

Now that the Texas House has a quorum following Democrats’ two-week absence, lawmakers are back to debate a wide range of issues, including redrawing congressional maps to benefit Republicans.

The gambit has triggered a national redistricting war, as governors from both major parties threaten to initiate similar efforts in other states.

The new special session started with threats to House Democrats, who have signaled their intention to return to Texas after leaving the state to block the passage of a new GOP-friendly congressional map.

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