Texas Republicans are moving closer to approving new congressional maps amid a Democratic show of protest over the GOP House speaker’s order that members who fled the state weeks earlier be placed under law enforcement watch.

The Republican-controlled Texas legislature is expected to pass a new congressional map creating five new winnable seats for the GOP.

The Texas House will vote on new congressional redistricting maps on Wednesday. The proposed maps would create five new Republican-leaning districts. Democrats oppose the changes, alleging racial discrimination in the new maps.

A second special session that has made approving the map a priority started Friday, shortly after the first one ended.

Former President Barack Obama has expressed support for California Governor Gavin Newsom's approach to redistricting.