Texas legislators on Wednesday passed a new state congressional map drawn at the behest of President Donald Trump to flip five Democratic-held US House seats in next year’s midterm elections, after dozens of Democratic lawmakers ended a two-week walkout that had temporarily blocked passage. Republican legislators, who have dominated Texas politics for over two decades, have undertaken a rare mid-decade redistricting to help Trump improve their party’s odds of preserving its narrow US House of Representatives majority amid political headwinds.

Democratic lawmakers were expected to return to Texas after fleeing the state for two weeks. Republicans are ready to quickly pass a new congressional map called for by President…

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