California Gov. Gavin Newsom stood with other prominent Democratic leaders Thursday to announce that the state will move forward with a partisan plan to redraw congressional maps in an effort to help his party win five more U.S. House seats in 2026.
The move is a direct response to a Republican-led effort in Texas, pushed by President Donald Trump as his party seeks to maintain its slim House majority after the midterm elections. Texas lawmakers are considering a new map that would help them send five more Republicans to Washington, but Democrats have so far halted a vote by leaving the state to prevent their GOP colleagues from meeting Trump’s demands.
Newsom, who is seen as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, urged Trump in a letter earlier this week to abandon his scheme, telling the president he is “playing with fire” and “risking the destabilization of our democracy.”
On Thursday, Newsom called for a Nov. 4 special election on new U.S. House maps designed to win more Democratic seats. He released a campaign ad on social media as Democrats kicked off a press conference where Newsom stood with a coalition of union leaders and U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla.
California leaders are aiming to release their proposed maps Friday, with plans to quickly approve them next week when the Legislature returns from the summer recess. Lawmakers are also expected declare a special election for Nov. 4 to seek voter approval on the new maps. Democrats hold supermajorities in both chambers.
The California map would only take effect if Texas and other states move forward with their own redistricting efforts, and they would remain through the 2030 elections. After that, Democrats say they would return mapmaking power to an independent redistricting commission approved by voters more than a decade ago.
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Author: Dillon B
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