The approval of the maps on a party-line vote is likely to prompt California’s Democratic-controlled state Legislature to approve a new map creating five new Democratic-leaning districts.

Democrats and voting rights advocates have denounced the redistricting effort, which is designed to give the GOP five more seats in the U.S. House.

Former President Barack Obama has waded into states’ efforts at rare mid-decade redistricting efforts, saying he agrees with California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s response to alter his state’s congressional maps, in the way of Texas redistricting efforts promoted by President Donald Trump aimed at shoring up Republicans’ position in next year’s elections.

Democratic Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier has now spent over 24 hours on the Texas House floor in protest after refusing a Republican demand to be placed under the watch of the state Department of Public Safety.

A group of Dallas-area families and faith leaders sought an injunction against the law, which was to go into effect on Sept. 1.

AIPAC and the Republican Jewish Coalition back Sen. John Cornyn over Ken Paxton in the Texas GOP primary, citing his pro-Israel record.

The Texas House of Representatives has passed a redistricting bill, paving the way for Republican-drawn maps that could net the GOP as many as five US House seats to be finalized in the coming days.