Texas Republicans are near passing a new congressional map, sparking a response from California and igniting a new battle between Republicans and Democrats.

Abbott called a second special session after the House again failed to reach a quorum amid a Democratic walkout over a GOP-favored redistricting plan.

New York Times columnist David Brooks compared Trump's Texas redistricting efforts to 'mustard gas' on democracy, criticizing both parties' gerrymandering tactics.

After Democrats returned to the Texas statehouse, Republican leadership assigned law enforcement officers to monitor them to prevent further delays to their plan to redraw congressional voting districts to favor Republicans ahead of the election.

A poll taken by Gov. Gavin Newsom's pollster found 57% of California voters back a plan to redraw the state's congressional maps to boost Democrats.

"When we return, we will be ready to fight this map with every weapon available - from the streets to the statehouse to the courthouse," said Rep. Ramón Romero Jr., a Fort Worth Democrat who chairs the Mexican American Legislative Caucus said in a Monday statement.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott called a second special legislative session on Friday, hiking pressure on Democratic lawmakers who fled the state to stymie Republican plans to redraw political maps at the behest of U.

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