The Texas House on Wednesday approved redrawn congressional maps that would give Republicans a bigger edge in 2026, pushing through a partisan gerrymander that triggered weeks of protests by Democrats and a national battle over redistricting.

The approval came at the urging of President Donald Trump, who pushed for the mid-decade revision of congressional maps to give his party a better chance at holding onto the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections. The maps need to be approved by the GOP-controlled state Senate and signed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott before they become official. But the Texas House vote had presented the best chance for Democrats to derail the redraw.

Democratic legislators delayed the vote by two weeks by fleeing Texas earlier this month, returning only after being placed under round-the-clock police surveillance to ensure attendance at Wednesday’s session.