SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KGO) — Gov. Gavin Newsom is doubling down on his menace to overtake the state’s unbiased redistricting course of, escalating a political standoff with Texas Republicans that is changing into a flashpoint within the battle for management of Congress.
This week, the Texas Legislature kicked off a particular session the place redistricting is on the desk, as Republicans reevaluate their congressional maps to assist the GOP retain its slim Home majority after the 2026 midterms.
After a Friday assembly with Texas lawmakers on the governor’s mansion in Sacramento, Newsom advised reporters the state of affairs is a “five-alarm hearth for democracy in the USA.”
“We’re dedicated to this course of. This isn’t a bluff,” he stated. “All the pieces is at stake if we’re not profitable subsequent yr and take again the Home of Representatives.”
Final week, President Donald Trump publicly known as on Texas to redraw their maps, despite the fact that the state’s boundaries have been already up to date in 2021 after the 2020 U.S. Census.
In response, Newsom started floating the concept that California might abandon its unbiased redistricting fee. California voters first signed off on this course of by way of a 2008 proposition that amended the state structure to relinquish lawmakers’ management of drawing electoral maps.
“We wish to play the sport on the phrases the place all people is enjoying by the identical algorithm. That is now not the case,” the governor stated.
Since then, the thought has sparked a mixture of intrigue and backlash in Sacramento. Whereas some Democrats have expressed quiet openness, others on each side of the aisle say weaponizing redistricting would erode democratic norms.
“We win elections by a warfare of concepts, not by manipulating the traces,” stated Assemblymember Heath Flora, R-Ripon. “Now we have to have truthful and open elections, and I do not assume that is a partisan challenge.”
Flora – the Republicans’ newly-elected chief within the Meeting – stated he isn’t listening to quite a lot of eagerness from his colleagues on each side of the aisle about this provocative proposal.
“I do not assume there’s an enormous urge for food. I do assume that if it will get on the poll, it will price all people some huge cash,” he stated. “And for what? As a result of we wish to be reactionary to one thing that Texas is doing? I simply do not assume it is good. I do not assume Texas ought to do it both.”
Newsom considers poll measure to vary California’s maps
Newsom confirmed this week that he is actively exploring 4 totally different authorized or political avenues to reassert lawmakers’ management over California’s redistricting, together with sending the measure again to voters.
“The cleanest path, to be candid, is asking the voters that enacted this within the first place to think about the brand new situations,” he stated.
California’s present course of is overseen by a 14-member unbiased residents’ fee, which redraws state and congressional districts each 10 years primarily based on U.S. Census knowledge. The Fee is made up of 5 Republicans, 5 Democrats, and 4 who are usually not affiliated with both get together.
In Texas, redistricting is managed by the Legislature, which is at present managed by a Republican supermajority. Trump’s push to revisit the maps comes amid ongoing authorized challenges to the state’s present boundaries, which allege that the traces discriminate towards Latino and Black voters.
Redistricting skilled Paul Mitchell says that creating 5 new GOP-stronghold districts in Texas could be tough and will require focusing on Democratic-held seats and shifting massive numbers of voters.
“The one method to try this is to search out Democratic congressional districts and shove extra Republicans into these districts,” Mitchell stated. “After which with the following election cycle, voila, a seat that appeared prefer it was sort of a protected Democratic seat is now a Republican pickup.”
Nonetheless, Texas Democrats fear that even modest adjustments might entrench GOP management in ways in which reverberate nationally.
“It’s going to trigger nice hurt,” stated Texas state Rep. Rafael AnchÃa, D-Dallas. “Not solely to the people who we symbolize, but in addition probably to all People.”
What occurs subsequent will probably rely upon whether or not Texas lawmakers comply with by way of on redrawing the maps.
Newsom made clear that if Texas performs partisan hardball, California might too – even when it means scrapping a system he as soon as rallied behind.
“We’re not going to play by a unique algorithm anymore,” Newsom stated.
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