The reason for the Democrats' flight from their home state is to break the quorum – the minimum number of members who must be present in the state congress for a law to be adopted – and thus stop the controversial proposal for new electoral districts.
The purpose of the proposal from Texas was to secure congressional seats for the Republicans in next year's midterm elections.
But now the flight may be over. The Democrats announce on Thursday that they will return to Texas, but only if the state ends its "extra session", i.e. the meeting where they tried to get the redrawing through, and if California also presents a proposal with redrawn boundaries for their electoral districts.
At the same time, California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom announces that he is calling a special election on November 4 about just that – redrawn maps that instead favor Democrats.
He directs harsh criticism at President Donald Trump, who ultimately lies behind the attempt to redraw Texas' boundaries.
We cannot hold back and see our democracy lose state after state across the country, says Newsom and continues:
Donald Trump, you have awakened the bear and we will strike back.
