SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have appeared shoulder-to-shoulder with Texas Democratic lawmakers in a show of support for their nearly weeklong walkout. The standoff has blocked a vote on congressional voting maps sought by President Donald Trump. Pelosi defended the walkout in the appearance in Sacramento on Friday. She called it “self-defense for our democracy.” The Texas House of Representatives failed to meet a quorum to conduct business for the third time this week with Democratic lawmakers staying away. California is moving toward a potential special election in November that Democrats hope could slash five Republican-held House seats in direct response to the maneuvering in Texas.
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