LOS ANGELES - A national political battle over redistricting is escalating as California lawmakers approved a special election that will be held Nov. 4 for voters to decide on the newly proposed congressional maps. Lawmakers voted mostly along party lines after hours of debate. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the legislation Thursday evening.

The move sets up a ballot initiative that, if approved by voters, would sidestep the independent commission in charge of redistricting.

IT’S OFFICIALLY AN ELECTION YEAR IN CALIFORNIA. CALIFORNIA VOTERS THIS NOVEMBER WILL BE ASKED TO APPROVE OR REJECT A NEW DEMOCRATIC DRAWN CONGRESSIONAL MAPS MEANT TO ADD MORE DEMOCRATIC SEATS IN CONGRESS.

The Texas Senate on Saturday approved new congressional maps drawn to help Republicans win as many as five more House seats in next year’s midterm elections.

The new, partisan maps come on the heels of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s launch of California’s redistricting campaign on Thursday, an effort he touted as meant to favor Democrats in California in the upcoming midterm elections as a counter to similar efforts in Republican-led states elsewhere in the country.

Rep. George Whitesides, a prime GOP target, would be in a bluer district as other Dems pick up more Republican voters.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has promised to sign a new congressional voting map designed to help Republicans maintain their slim majority in Congress.

California and Texas, the country's two most populous states, are getting closer to redrawing their congressional districts in a political fight sparked by President Trump.