The Texas Legislature began a new special legislative session Friday after Gov. Greg Abbott called lawmakers back to deal with congressional redistricting and a host of other issues — laying down a new gauntlet for Democrats who fled the state nearly two weeks ago to halt a vote on a new district map.

Texas House Democrats blocked the end of the first special session by maintaining a quorum break, preventing Republicans from passing new congressional maps.

“This is not just about Texas or Texans,” Plesa said in front of a battery of television cameras. “This is about the pillars of democracy as we know it.”