At parks, coffee shops, churches and government buildings around the country, hundreds of groups are gathering today with a simple message: “Stop the Trump takeover.”

Democratic state Representative Nicole Collier hunkered down for a second night in the Texas Capitol building rather than accept a mandatory police escort in a redistricting battle as President Donald Trump seeks to keep Republican control of Congress.

Texas’ Republican-led legislature gave initial approval to a controversial new electoral map on Wednesday, a redistricting move designed to give the GOP an additional five seats in the U.S.

Thousands assembled around the country to demonstrate against a Republican effort to redraw congressional maps in their favor for 2026.

Texas Democrats who oppose a controversial Republican-led redistricting plan appear to be shifting strategy from walkout to holding protest rallies.

"Trump is trying to steal the 2026 election by rigging the system and changing electoral maps," the event's website states. "We are fighting back."

Dozens of Democratic state lawmakers fled Texas to deny Republicans the quorum needed to vote on a redistricting plan that President Trump demanded.

Protests erupt across the U.S. over GOP-led redistricting, claimed to be gerrymandering to increase Republican congressional seats, with Trump's support and similar Democratic tactics noted.