The Texas Legislature began a new special legislative session Friday after Gov. Greg Abbott called lawmakers back to deal with congressional redistricting and a host of other issues — laying down a new gauntlet for Democrats who fled the state nearly two weeks ago to halt a vote on a new district map.

Gov. Greg Abbott has called a second special session for 19 agenda items as Texas' redistricting showdown rages on.

On Saturday, about 5,000 people gathered at the Capitol in Austin to protest President Donald Trump and the Texas Legislature’s plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts to give Republicans more seats in the U.

Congressional redistricting battle intensifies as California vows to counter Texas GOP maps while Democratic lawmakers end their walkout protest.