HOUSTON, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The GOP-dominated Texas state House on Monday advanced a redistricting bill pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump, following the return of Democratic lawmakers who had staged a two-week walkout in protest.

Following a 12-8 party-line panel vote, the redrawn congressional map, aiming to create five new Republican districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, is expected to be brought to the House floor for a vote this week.

One day earlier, the Texas Senate's redistricting committee advanced legislation with the same maps proposed during the first special session. The bill now moves to the Senate floor for a full vote, according to The Texas Tribune.

The Texas House of Representatives currently has 88 Republicans and requires 100 members present to meet the quorum needed to conduct legislative business. More than 50 Democratic state lawmakers left the state in protest during the first weekend of August, leaving the House in a quorum break since Aug. 4.

On Friday, Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott called for a second special session at the state Capitol, while California Democrats released a plan that would seek to offset any changes Texas Republicans made to their map.

The current congressional map in Texas was drawn in 2021, with Republicans having 25 seats out of Texas's 38. Pushed directly by Trump, Texas Republicans proposed new congressional lines in late July to divide up existing districts in Austin, Houston and Dallas in a bid to garner five more seats.

A national congressional redistricting is currently underway between the two U.S. major parties. Multiple media outlets here described it as an "arms race." Enditem