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.

A walkout by Democratic legislators in Texas has ended, and Republicans are arranging to push a plan for redrawing the state’s congressional districts through the GOP-controlled Legislature.

The new special session started Friday 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.

The gambit has triggered a national redistricting war, with governors of both parties threatening to initiate similar efforts in other states.

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows is warning that any absent lawmakers found this weekend will be arrested and brought back to Austin for the start of the seco

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.

Democratic State Representative Nicole Collier spent the night on the Texas House floor, refusing to comply with an order.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Republican-controlled Texas House of Representatives on Wednesday kicked off a heated debate over a new congressional map creating five new potential GOP seats that is expected to pass the chamber later in the day as part of a growing national redistricting battle.

House Speaker Dustin Burrows said Monday that Democrats who previously left the state could not leave the chamber unless they agreed to having a DPS escort. Collier refused one and must remain in the chamber.

House Speaker Dustin Burrows gaveled in the House on Tuesday and again there was no quorum. Only 95 members were present; 100 are needed for a quorum.

President Donald Trump has taken aim at MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace in a bizarre social media rant. The drama started when 79-year-old Trump kicked off his Sunday morning with a cryptic post on Truth Social. “Bela,” he wrote, leaving his followers to debate the meaning of the word.