California escalates Texas redistricting fight with November ballot measure

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

August 8, 2025 8:52 PM EDT Updated 11 hours ago


Aug 8 (Reuters) - California's governor said on Friday he will ask voters to approve a ballot measure in November redrawing the state's congressional map in a way likely to create five more Democratic seats, escalating a redistricting war with the Republican-led state of Texas and President Donald Trump.

Texas Republicans have drawn a new congressional map aimed at flipping five Democratic seats in the November 2026 midterm election, with the battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives expected to be closely fought. Governor Gavin Newsom and other California Democrats on Friday characterized their latest effort as an "emergency," a temporary strategy to neutralize Republican moves they see aimed at gaming the system.

"We are trying to defend democracy, as opposed to seeing it destroyed district by district," Newsom said during a news conference in Sacramento. He was flanked by Democratic leaders of the California legislature and members of the state's congressional district, including former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The Democrats said they expected to have a newly agreed-upon map, based on previous plans reviewed by the state's independent redistricting commission, ready for public scrutiny next week, three months before it would go to voters. The Democratic-majority legislature would first have to vote in favor of a special election, to be set for the first week of November 2025.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/texas-republicans-restrict-pay-missing-democrats-redistricting-dispute-2025-08-08/

[Chasstev365]

1. Question:

What will stop the GOP from electronically making sure it fails?

Don't chance it: JUST DO IT the same way Texas is doing it!

[travelingthrulife]

2. Unlike Texas, we do have laws in California.

[BWdem4life]

3. So, fighting back equals escalation.

Got it.

[republianmushroom]

4. Proud of you, California.

[summer_in_TX]

5. California's approach is admirable. Full transparency, asking voters for permission.

Yes, since the state voted the nonpartisan electoral commission in, it's required. But it's a good thing. The messaging Newsom, state and federal Dems, and some of the Texas House Dems who joined him in his announcement of the plan was excellent.

Plus the harsh way Trump's admin has been treating Los Angeles and other areas in their immigration crackdown, as well as threats to withhold FEMA money, undoubtedly makes him persona non grata with most Californians.