Newsom fires back at GOP redistricting push, unveils a plan to redraw California's congressional maps
By lauraharris // 2025-08-17
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  • California Gov. Gavin Newsom, responding to Republican-led redistricting in Texas, unveiled a plan to redraw California's congressional maps to shift control of up to six GOP-held seats to Democrats.
  • The proposal seeks voter approval in a November special election to suspend California's independent redistricting commission for three election cycles, temporarily handing map-drawing power to the state Legislature.
  • Newsom, seen as a likely 2028 presidential candidate, is framing the plan as a necessary response to President Donald Trump's alleged effort to manipulate congressional maps for partisan gain, calling the moment one of national democratic urgency.
  • The plan faces strong opposition from across the political spectrum, including former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and redistricting reform advocate Charles Munger Jr., with critics accusing Newsom of hypocrisy and warning of constitutional and Voting Rights Act challenges.
  • Even with voter approval, legal battles over population data, minority representation and map fairness could delay implementation beyond 2026. Both parties are expected to spend heavily as California becomes a central battleground in the national redistricting fight.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has joined top Democratic lawmakers to redraw the state's congressional maps in response to Republican-led redistricting efforts in Texas. The plan, which includes temporarily sidelining the state's popular independent redistricting commission, proposes that the legislature take control of redistricting for the next three election cycles, subject to voter approval, before returning power to the commission after the 2030 census. "Today is liberation day in the state of California," Newsom said on Aug. 14. "Donald Trump, you have poked the bear and we will punch back." Newsom, considered a likely 2028 presidential contender, framed the move as a necessary response to a brazen attempt by Trump to gerrymander as many as five new GOP-friendly districts in Texas. "We're doing this in reaction to a President of the United States that called a sitting governor in the state of Texas and said 'find me five seats.' We're doing it in reaction to that act," Newsom added. "We will affirm our commitment to the state independent redistricting after the 2030 census, but we asking the voters for their consent to do midterm redistricting." Newsom also defended his actions, claiming that he and his fellow Democrats are "working through a very transparent, temporary and public process. We're putting the maps on the ballot and putting the power to the people." "California will not sit idle as Trump and his Republican lapdogs shred our country's democracy before our very eyes. In just six months, Trump's unchecked power has cost Americans billions and taken an ax to the greatest democracy we've ever known. This moment calls for urgency and action – that is what we are putting before voters this November, a chance to fight back against his anti-American ways," Newsom wrote in a separate official statement. (Related: Gov. Greg Abbott asks Texas Supreme Court to remove Rep. Gene Wu from office amid legislative walkout over redistricting.)

Newsom's redistricting push faces legal and political hurdles

The proposal faces significant political, legal and logistical hurdles – and it's already drawing fire from across the political spectrum. To move forward, Newsom would need voters to approve changes in a special statewide election this November, suspending the authority of California's independent redistricting commission for the next three election cycles and transferring power temporarily to the Legislature. While Newsom hosted fleeing Texas Democratic lawmakers earlier in August, his own redistricting campaign is under intense scrutiny. The independent commission, created by ballot initiative with strong bipartisan support, remains popular. Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who championed its creation, has pledged to oppose Newsom's plan, and Charles Munger Jr., who helped bankroll the commission's founding, is expected to fund a major campaign against it. Critics accuse Newsom of undermining the very democratic principles he claims to protect. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) charged that he's willing to "trample over democracy" in a cynical play for power. Legal experts also warn of challenges on constitutional and federal grounds, particularly over population data and minority representation requirements. Districts must have equal populations and comply with the Voting Rights Act, which could lead to lengthy legal battles if Newsom proceeds with drawing new lines based on estimates instead of census data. The state's Department of Finance estimates California's population has shifted slightly since the 2020 census, with coastal counties losing residents and inland areas gaining, adding further complexity. Even if voters approve the plan, litigation could delay or even derail implementation before the 2026 midterms. Meanwhile, both parties are expected to pour millions into California, with Trump and the GOP funding opposition, and labor unions and Democratic allies backing Newsom. Visit CancelDemocrats.news for more stories like this. Watch this clip of a similar incident four years ago, wherein Texas state Sen. Bryan Hughes said a state law allowed the arrests of 51 Democrats who left the Lone Star State to block voting restrictions.
This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Texas redistricting showdown escalates: Abbott sues to remove Democrat leader over quorum break.

Trump backs Schimel in Wisconsin court fight as Democrats eye redistricting power play.

GOP Texas House Speaker issues arrest warrants for 52 Dems who refuse to show up and do their jobs.

Sources include: FoxNews.com Gov.ca.gov CalMatters.org Brighteon.com
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