Texas Republicans' push to redraw congressional maps to secure five more GOP seats in the U.S. House has kicked off a no-holds-barred battle between blue and red states, each threatening to redraw their own House seats.

Plaintiffs who challenged the map said it reduced Black voting power by dismantling a North Florida seat held by former U.S. Rep. Al Lawson. DeSantis said the long district, which stretched across the panhandle, relied too much on race.

The Texas House reconvened Tuesday afternoon in Austin after Democratic lawmakers fled the state in an effort to block a redistricting vote. Democratic lawmakers were not in attendance, making it the second day in a row the House hasn't met a quorum.