Photos from the Texas Legislature as Republicans push for new political maps

News > Politics & Government News

Texas Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, is surrounded by fellow Republicans as he faces off with Democrats during debate over a redrawn U.S. congressional map in Texas during a special session, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, is surrounded by fellow Republicans as he faces off with Democrats during debate over a redrawn U.S. congressional map in Texas during a special session, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Democratic Texas state Rep. Cassandra Garcia Hernandez votes on a redrawn U.S. congressional map in Texas during a special session, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Democratic Texas state Rep. Cassandra Garcia Hernandez votes on a redrawn U.S. congressional map in Texas during a special session, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas state senators pray before they debate a bill on a redrawn U.S. congressional map during a special session in the Senate Chamber at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas state senators pray before they debate a bill on a redrawn U.S. congressional map during a special session in the Senate Chamber at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas state Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houson, sits through debate over a redrawn U.S. congressional map in Texas during a special session, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas state Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houson, sits through debate over a redrawn U.S. congressional map in Texas during a special session, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
House Bill 4, changing the U.S. congressional map in Texas, passes during a special session, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
House Bill 4, changing the U.S. congressional map in Texas, passes during a special session, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas Rep. Todd Hunter, front right, answers questions during debate over a redrawn U.S. congressional maps in Texas during a special session, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas Rep. Todd Hunter, front right, answers questions during debate over a redrawn U.S. congressional maps in Texas during a special session, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, right, questions Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, during debate over a bill before a vote on a redrawn U.S. congressional map during a special session in the Senate Chamber at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, right, questions Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, during debate over a bill before a vote on a redrawn U.S. congressional map during a special session in the Senate Chamber at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Protesters gather in the rotunda outside the House Chamber at the Texas Capitol as lawmakers debate a redrawn U.S. congressional map in Texas during a special session, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Protesters gather in the rotunda outside the House Chamber at the Texas Capitol as lawmakers debate a redrawn U.S. congressional map in Texas during a special session, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas state Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, right, looks at a protester dressed as death standing outside of the House Chamber where Democratic Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier refuses to leave due to a required law enforcement escort, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas state Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, right, looks at a protester dressed as death standing outside of the House Chamber where Democratic Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier refuses to leave due to a required law enforcement escort, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks to lawmakers during a special session in the Senate Chamber at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks to lawmakers during a special session in the Senate Chamber at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)
Howard Langer watches debate over a bill to approve a redrawn U.S. congressional map during a special session in the Senate Chamber at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Howard Langer watches debate over a bill to approve a redrawn U.S. congressional map during a special session in the Senate Chamber at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
A Texas troopers passes the Texas Seal on the Rotunda of the Texas Capitol before debate on a bill for a redrawn U.S. congressional map during a special session in the Senate Chamber in Austin, Texas, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
A Texas troopers passes the Texas Seal on the Rotunda of the Texas Capitol before debate on a bill for a redrawn U.S. congressional map during a special session in the Senate Chamber in Austin, Texas, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Democratic Texas state Rep. Mihaela Plesa, center, and Rep. Cassandra Garcia Hernandez, right, tear up their 'permission slips' outside of the House Chamber as they plan to join fellow Rep. Nicole Collier who refuses to leave due to a required law enforcement escort, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Democratic Texas state Rep. Mihaela Plesa, center, and Rep. Cassandra Garcia Hernandez, right, tear up their 'permission slips' outside of the House Chamber as they plan to join fellow Rep. Nicole Collier who refuses to leave due to a required law enforcement escort, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Democratic Texas state Rep. Plesa's ripped up 'permission slip' is seen outside the House Chamber after she and other democrats joined fellow Rep. Nicole Collier who refuses to leave due to a required law enforcement escort, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Democratic Texas state Rep. Plesa's ripped up 'permission slip' is seen outside the House Chamber after she and other democrats joined fellow Rep. Nicole Collier who refuses to leave due to a required law enforcement escort, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier, left, waves past Texas state Sen. Carol Alvarado, right, to supporters outside of the House Chamber where she refuses to leave due to a required law enforcement escort, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier, left, waves past Texas state Sen. Carol Alvarado, right, to supporters outside of the House Chamber where she refuses to leave due to a required law enforcement escort, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
A Texas state trooper engages with a protester over noise volume outside of the House Chamber where Democratic Texas Rep. Nicole Collier refuses to leave due to a required law enforcement escort, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
A Texas state trooper engages with a protester over noise volume outside of the House Chamber where Democratic Texas Rep. Nicole Collier refuses to leave due to a required law enforcement escort, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas troopers watch from the balcony as lawmakers debate a redrawn U.S. congressional map in Texas during a special session, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas troopers watch from the balcony as lawmakers debate a redrawn U.S. congressional map in Texas during a special session, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
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12:47 PM on Tuesday, August 19

By ERIC GAY and STEPHEN SPILLMAN

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas House of Representatives, led by Republicans, approved a redrawn congressional map that could give the GOP up to five new seats in Congress ahead of the 2026 midterms. After a two-week walkout that stalled the vote on a new political map, Democrats returned to the Texas Capitol. The plan now heads to the state Senate and Gov. Greg Abbott for final approval.

Read more about redistricting debates in Texas, California.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

 

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