By Joseph Ax

(Reuters) -Texas Republicans on Wednesday will take up a new state congressional map intended to flip five Democratic-held U.S. House seats in next year’s midterm elections, after dozens of Democratic lawmakers ended a two-week walkout that had temporarily blocked its passage.

Republican state legislators have undertaken a rare mid-decade redistricting at the behest of President Donald Trump, who is seeking to improve his party’s odds of preserving its narrow U.S. House of Representatives majority despite political headwinds.

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

Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom is advancing an effort to neutralize Texas’ move by redrawing hi

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