Before Texas House Democratic legislators return to Austin after a 12-day exile in Illinois to thwart their state’s Republicans from approving gerrymandered Congressional districts, several accepted the invitation of a Skokie elected official to visit a north suburban mosque Friday afternoon.

Republican leaders said that if they can't reach a quorum again at 10 a.m., both the House and Senate will wrap up the special session.

Republicans hold a 219-212 majority in the House, with four vacancies. New maps are typically drawn once a decade after the census is conducted. Many states, including Texas, give legislators the power to draw maps. California is among states that rely on an independent commission that is supposed to be nonpartisan.

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows is warning that any absent lawmakers found this weekend will be arrested and brought back to Austin for the start of the seco

The Texas Senate approved new congressional lines in efforts to keep GOP majority in Congress. The move angered Democrats, but put two lawmakers in an awkward position.

Texas Democrats have moved closer to ending a nearly two-week walkout that has blocked the GOP's redrawing of U.S. House maps before the 2026 election.

Congressional redistricting battle intensifies as California vows to counter Texas GOP maps while Democratic lawmakers end their walkout protest.