A Republican bid to approve new congressional maps in Texas cleared a major hurdle as the state House of Representatives passed the legislation on Wednesday evening.

The new maps, which would create five new GOP districts to “enhance” Republican performance in the 2026 midterm elections, advanced 88-52 in a procedural vote, with the same margin for final passage shortly thereafter. The legislation now heads to the state Senate as Texas, controlled by Republicans, makes an aggressive bid to protect the party’s delicate majority in the U.S. House.