Texas Republicans celebrated a significant victory on Thursday after the state House of Representatives approved a bill to redraw congressional maps. This move could potentially flip five congressional districts to Republican control. The decision follows a lengthy debate on Wednesday and comes after Democrats had previously fled the state to prevent a quorum in the legislature.

Former President Donald Trump praised the outcome on social media, stating, "Big WIN for the Great State of Texas!!! Everything Passed, on our way to FIVE more Congressional seats and saving your Rights, your Freedoms, and your Country, itself. Texas never lets us down." The Texas Senate is expected to review the bill on Thursday, and it is anticipated that Governor Greg Abbott will sign it into law once it passes.

Abbott expressed his support for the bill, stating, "While Democrats shirked their duty, in futility, and ran away to other states, Republicans stayed the course, stayed at work and stayed true to Texas. I will sign this bill once it passes the Senate and gets to my desk."

In California, the state legislature is also convening on Thursday to consider legislation that would place new congressional maps on the ballot for a special election in November. Governor Gavin Newsom has been advocating for this initiative, asserting that new maps in California would only be implemented if other states also redraw their lines. He criticized Abbott, saying, "Congratulations to @GregAbbott_TX — you will now go down in history as one of Donald Trump’s most loyal lapdogs. Shredding our nation’s founding principles. What a legacy."

Former President Barack Obama weighed in on the redistricting debate, supporting Newsom's stance. He remarked, "Given that Texas is taking direction from a partisan White House that is effectively saying: gerrymander for partisan purposes so we can maintain the House despite our unpopular policies... I have tremendous respect for how Governor Newsom has approached this."

Obama noted that while California could gain more Democratic seats through redistricting, he prefers not to engage in such tactics. He emphasized the importance of not allowing one party to dominate the process.

Trump responded to Newsom's comments early Thursday, claiming the governor is "way down in the polls" and is perceived as damaging California. He stated, "He is viewed as the man who is destroying the once Great State of California."

California Republicans have criticized the push for new maps, arguing that it is costly and undermines the will of voters who favor independent redistricting.