How Newsom plans to neutralize Texas' partisan redistricting effort
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Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled the "Election Rigging Response Act" at a press conference Thursday. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images
Gov. Gavin Newsom and other California leaders said Thursday that the California Legislature will introduce and approve the state's response to an escalating partisan redistricting arms race starting early next week.
Why it matters: Efforts in blue and red states to pick up seats through gerrymandering could determine control of Congress in next year's midterm election.
- California's play follows Texas Republicans' effort — instigated by President Trump — to redraw its congressional maps to help maintain control of the House of Representatives.
The intrigue: Newsom said California's legislation would be triggered by continued partisan redistricting efforts by not just Texas, but any Republican-controlled state.
- "There is still an off ramp," he said, if states like Missouri, Indiana and Florida opt not to pursue midterm redistricting.
- "We're not waiting, and we're not anticipating that these states will be passive, especially with the directive coming from Donald Trump."
The big picture: Newsom said the Legislature will approve a legislative package by the end of next week to schedule a November special election for California voters to weigh in on new congressional maps aiming to create five new Democratic seats.
- The action would require a constitutional amendment, which needs two-thirds approval from the Legislature.
- Newsom said they'd release maps in the next few days that would "completely neuter and neutralize what's happening in Texas."
Zoom in: Politico obtained a draft version of the map, which could create five Democratic pick up opportunities and shore up the party's position in four more.
- The 48th district, straddling, Riverside and San Diego counties and held by Rep. Darrell Issa, would move from a "safe Republican" to a "lean Democratic" seat, per a party briefing of the map.
Between the lines: Newsom said it is his hope and expectation that other blue states will follow California's lead.
- "This is not just about Texas, this is about running away with this system and rigging it midterm," he said. "So we're not going to just sit back passively."
Zoom out: Texas Democrats, who broke quorum by leaving the state to block the GOP's redistricting effort at the beginning of the month, outlined their terms for returning Thursday.
- They'll come back after the Legislature adjourns Friday, and California introduces its redistricting maps, they announced in a release.
What's next: California's new maps would be in place for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections, before the state would hand authority back to its independent redistricting commission.