Some Texas Democrats are in Sacramento on Friday to huddle with Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), as the standoff over the Texas legislature's efforts to pass new GOP-friendly maps spreads across the nation.
Newsom, who has threatened to redraw California's maps if Texas moves ahead as planned, will hold a press conference with the Texas Democrats at 5 p.m. EDT.
The Democrats have been on a blue states tour, with some fleeing Texas for Illinois, New York and New Jersey.
The Texas Democrats left their state over the weekend to deny the Texas legislature a quorum and delay a vote on the new maps, which could help Texas Republicans win an additional five seats in next year's midterm elections.
Texas Republicans asked the FBI for assistance in tracking down and returning the missing Democrats, sparking a political battle over the appropriate use of federal law enforcement.
"There would be no authority for the FBI to target Democrats from the Texas Legislature in connection with an act that Democrats have taken that is authorized by the Texas Constitution," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told ABC News.
The ranking Democratic members of two key House committees sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to express "great concern about the abuse of federal public safety resources."
Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said the FBI "has no legal authority to track down state legislators who are breaking no federal laws."
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said she wouldn't allow the FBI to "hunt down" the Texas Democrats.
The situation is tense after a second bomb threat was reported Friday at the Illinois hotel housing some Texas Democrats.
The Texas Democrats are incurring $500 daily fines, with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) saying he'll prosecute if they try to raise campaign funds to cover the costs.
NBC News breaks down the full dynamics of the financial costs the Democrats are incurring.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said the Democrats will have to stay out of state for years if they hope to deny a legislative quorum because he'll continue initiating new special sessions to vote on the maps when the current special session retires.
"Democrats act like they're not going to come back as long as this is an issue," Abbott told NBC. "That means they're not going to come back until like 2027 or 2028, because I'm going to call special session after special session after special session with the same agenda items on there."
MEANWHILE…
Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez (R) said he'll form a redistricting committee to look at redrawing the state's congressional lines ahead of next year's midterm elections.
Other red states, including Indiana and Missouri, are also mulling mid-decade redistricting.
Blue states, such as New York, New Jersey and California, are considering their own moves in response to Texas's redistricting.
Blue state Republicans are sounding the alarm at the redistricting arms race, warning they'll become extinct if Democrats implement new maps.
"I think the whole thing is pretty disgusting," said Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), whose reelection could be at risk if California Democrats pursue new maps.
LaMalfa said constituents don't want politicians manufacturing "a temporary gain by — any side — manipulating lines."
Veteran GOP strategist Karl Rove said both parties will suffer the consequences of the redistricting arms race.
"There are gonna be consequences for both parties as a result of what is happening in Texas that neither party will like," Rove told Fox News's "America's Newsroom."
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