California Democrats are poised to pass a contentious redistricting effort on Thursday in the latest escalation to a national back and forth that could prove critical in which party is able to win the U.S. House in next year's midterm elections.

California Democrats are taking up their proposed constitutional amendment to temporarily redraw their congressional maps, hours after Republicans in the Texas House passed new maps of their own.

California begins its plan to add more Democrats to Congress. The California legislature will consider three bills that will allow a special election.