AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Democrats ended a two-week walkout Monday that stalled Republican efforts to redraw congressional districts as part of a national partisan brawl over President Donald Trump’s desire to reshape U.S. House maps to his advantage.

Their return to Texas — where state police will escort the lawmakers to ensure they don’t leave again — puts the Republican-run Legislature in position to satisfy Trump’s demands as California Democrats advance new congressional boundaries in retaliation.

The tit-for-tat puts the nation’s two most populous states at the center of an expanding fight over control of Congress ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The battle has rallied Democrats nationally following infighting and frustrations among the party’s voters since Republicans took total control of the federal government in January.

Dozens of Texas Democratic lawmakers left for Illinois and elsewhere on Aug. 3 to deny their Republican colleagues the attendance necessary to vote on redrawn maps intended to send five more Texas Republicans to Washington. They declared victory Friday, after Texas Republicans adjourned their first special session and Democrats nationally rallied in opposition to Trump’s maneuvering. They pointed specifically to California’s proposal intended to increase Democrats’ U.S. House advantage by five seats, effectively neutralizing potential Republican gains in Texas.

Many absent Democrats left Chicago early Monday and landed hours later at a private airfield in Austin, where several boarded a charter bus to the Capitol. Cheering supporters greeted them inside. And for the first time since Trump’s redistricting push accelerated into a national issue, the Texas House floor was near capacity when lawmakers briefly convened.

Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows did not mention redistricting on the floor but promised swift action on the Legislature’s agenda.

“The majority has the right to prevail. The minority has the right to be heard,” the speaker said. “We are done waiting.”

Burrows previously issued civil arrest warrants for absent lawmakers under House rules, and his office said Texas Department of Public Safety officers will now follow them around the clock to ensure their continued presence.

Democrats declared victory while acknowledging Republicans can move forward with redrawn districts.

“We killed the corrupt special session, withstood unprecedented surveillance and intimidation, and rallied Democrats nationwide to join this existential fight for fair representation — reshaping the entire 2026 landscape,” House Minority Leader Gene Wu said in a written statement.

Wu said Democrats would challenge the new designs in court. Republicans now hold 25 of Texas’ 38 U.S. House seats.

Lawmakers did not take up any bills Monday and were not scheduled to return until Wednesday.

Trump has pressured other Republican-run states to consider redistricting, as well, while Democratic governors in multiple statehouses have indicated they would follow California’s lead in response. Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom has said his state will hold a Nov. 4 special referendum on the redrawn districts.