Texas’ Republican-led legislature gave initial approval to a controversial new electoral map on Wednesday, a redistricting move designed to give the GOP an additional five seats in the U.S.

While Gov. Greg Abbott blasted through a Democratic blockade and advanced a new congressional map, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is eying a new map in his state.

Republicans feel they have supporting legal opinions to make the changes, but Democrats spent the day arguing the bill breaks up communities of color.

A plan by Texas House Democrats to block a Republican redistricting effort until the complete release of the Jeffrey Epstein files failed on Wednesday.

The Texas State Capitol was cleared of visitors Tuesday evening and closed to the public after a social media threat, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.

Democratic state Representative Nicole Collier spent the night in the Texas Capitol building rather than agree to a police monitor amid a contentious partisan struggle over redistricting that is part of President Donald Trump's campaign to keep the national House of Representatives in Republican hands.

A Texas lawmaker confirmed she remained in her seat on the Texas House floor Monday morning after refusing to sign a GOP-mandated "permission slip" requiring Department of Public Safety escorts for Democrats who broke quorum over redistricting.

State Representative Nicole Collier plans to stay in the Texas Capitol until Wednesday in protest against a police escort policy.