California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Thursday unveiled a California ballot initiative aimed at offsetting a controversial redistricting ploy by Republicans in Texas ahead of next year’s congressional elections.
The initiative, called the Election Rigging Response Act, asks California voters to approve early congressional redistricting if Texas goes forward with its own redistricting plan that would likely eliminate five Democratic congressional seats there. Newsom’s plan, if it is approved in a special election in November, would equally target five House Republicans in the Golden State.
“Today is liberation day in the state of California,” Newsom said at an event with other California Democratic officials in Los Angeles. “Donald Trump, you have poked the bear, and we will punch back.”
“We can’t unilaterally disarm and watch this democracy disappear, district by district, all across this country,” he added.
Dozens of federal immigration agents raided the neighborhood where Newsom’s press conference was held on Thursday.
“You think it’s coincidental?” he asked at the event. “Wake up America, this is a serious moment. Wake up to the fear, the anxiety.”
Newsom has his work cut out for him convincing Californians to approve the plan, according to a POLITICO poll released on Thursday. Just 36% of the poll’s respondents support returning congressional redistricting authority to state lawmakers, as Newsom is asking, instead of keeping it with California’s independent redistricting commission. To pass a statewide ballot initiative in California, a simple majority of votes is required.
However, members of that independent commission are also urging voters to support Newsom’s plan, calling the Republican push to gerrymander Democrats out of office in Texas and other GOP-controlled states a major threat to democracy.
“I’m here to be humble, to set aside the good work of California, but I do so with the expectation that it is a one-time occurrence [and] that this does not subvert the will of the people of California,” California independent redistricting commissioner Sara Sadhwani said at Newsom’s event on Thursday.
National Republicans responded by accusing Newsom of putting on a “stunt” that is designed to further his 2028 presidential ambitions.
“Newsom’s made it clear: he’ll shred California’s Constitution and trample over democracy — running a cynical, self-serving playbook where Californians are an afterthought and power is the only priority,” National Republican Campaign Committee spokesman Christian Martinez said in a statement.
Meanwhile, a group of Texas Democrats who fled their state in protest of Texas Republicans drawing new congressional maps announced Thursday they are prepared to return to the Lone Star state this week if the state legislature adjourns on Friday.
“Trump thought he could easily get his way in Texas with compliant Republicans, but Democrats fought back ferociously and took the fight to Trump across America,” Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu said in a statement. “When the legislature adjourns sine die and California introduces its maps, we will return to the House floor and to the courthouse with a clear message: the fight to protect voting rights has only just begun.”