The Texas redistricting battle is entering a new front as the fight turns to the courts, where Democrats and civil rights groups are expected to challenge the newly passed maps.

Texas House Democrats who had fled the state to stall the maps said that they were returning “to the House floor and to the courthouse” this week — and several groups signaled they are ready to sue as soon as Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signs the legislation.

But experts forecast Democrats will face an uphill climb to stop or even stall the maps, which could net five GOP House seats, from taking effect ahead of next year’s high-stakes midterms.

“Literally minutes after Abbott signs this bill and the redistricting plan goes into effect, there'll be litigation, most likely by Democrats, by the ACLU, by LULAC, by the NAACP,” said Jon Taylor, the University of Texas at San Antonio’s department chair of political science.

“A host of organizations will make the argument that what was already viewed as a racial gerrymander that took place in 2021 has become even more so in 2025. So, oh yeah, they're going to court — literally, almost at the same time that Abbott does his thing.”

The Republican-controlled Texas legislature was expected to approve the maps on Friday after a dramatic standoff with Democrats, who left the Lone Star State for two weeks to deprive the state House of the numbers it needed to function.

Democrats returned to the state Capitol this week on the condition that Abbott closed the first special session — and that California moved forward with its plan to counter GOP gains in Texas with Democrat-friendly redistricting in the Golden State.

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