(NewsNation) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that California will hold a special election Nov. 4 asking voters to approve new congressional maps designed to help Democrats win five additional U.S. House seats in 2026.
“You have the power on Nov. 4 to stand up for people who are being bullied. You have the power to stand up for people that are being intimidated. You have the power to stand up to the rule of law. We are giving the people of this state the power to save Democracy,” Newsom said.
The “Election Rigging Response Act” is a direct response to Republican efforts in Texas to redraw maps that could send five more GOP members to Congress. Texas Democrats have left the state to prevent a vote on those maps.
“We’re putting the maps on the ballot and we’re giving the power to the people. This is the first redistricting that’s ever done,” Newsom said at a news conference alongside Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla and union leaders.
The proposed maps would only take effect if Texas and other Republican-led states move forward with their redistricting plans, according to the measure. The emergency maps would expire in 2030, preserving California’s independent redistricting commission for future cycles.
Newsom launched a website, stopelectionrigging.com, calling the situation an “emergency for Democracy” and arguing that California “can’t unilaterally disarm” while Republicans pursue what Democrats characterize as gerrymandering.
“We tried to raise the standards but these guys are not playing by any set of rules so this time requires us to act anew,” Newsom said.
The move comes as President Donald Trump pushes Republicans to maintain their slim House majority through redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterms.
“Donald Trump and Greg Abbott are going to have a very bad day today,” Newsom, a Democrat, said on X.
Earlier in the month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called a special session of the state legislature during which state Republicans planned to vote on a redistricting map that would help Republicans maintain control of Congress in the 2026 midterms.
Texas Democrats left the state to prevent the legislature from attaining a quorum and voting on the maps, taking refuge in blue states, including Illinois and New York.
Abbott signed civil arrest orders for the absent lawmakers, attempting to bring them back to allow the vote.
While Texas lawmakers have been in a continued standoff, Florida authorities announced the state would also be attempting a middecade redistricting.
Newsom has threatened to redraw California’s maps in response, as have Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Feds conduct apparent raid just outside Newsom press conference in downtown Los Angeles
Federal agents were in attendance as Newsom took to downtown Los Angeles to promote his redistricting plan.
Just outside in the Little Tokyo area, however, about 100 federal agents gathered, presumably for another immigration raid.
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Author: Damita Menezes
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