The California governor requested the president to halt red-state map rewrites, warning that he would transfer to counter them.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom requested President Donald Trump in a letter on Aug. 11 to assist cease mid-decade congressional redistricting efforts in Texas and different Republican-led states. He stated California would contemplate redrawing its personal map if these efforts proceed.
“I’m writing to ask you to name on the governor of Texas and different pink states, who’re appearing in your request to attract new congressional maps by an unprecedented, mid-decade hyper-partisan gerrymander to rig the upcoming midterm elections, to cease these efforts,” Newsom wrote on Aug. 11.
The letter follows meetings in Sacramento final week between Newsom, California legislative leaders, and Texas Democratic lawmakers who had fled their state to keep away from a vote on the GOP-led redistricting plan.
In an announcement on Aug. 8, Newsom stated, “Donald Trump is tipping the scales of justice towards injustice for us all,“ accusing the president of ”[preventing] voters from holding him accountable and [providing] a verify” on his insurance policies.
“California stands able to flex its muscle to make sure the integrity of our democracy nationwide,” Newsom stated.
Texas lawmakers who traveled to California stated they plan to maintain urgent their case.
“We got here right here realizing the dangers,” Texas state Rep. Ann Johnson stated in the identical Aug. 8 assertion.
“Lawsuits, threats, and intimidation gained’t cease us. We swore an oath—to not Trump, to not Abbott, and to not any occasion. We swore to defend the Structure and the individuals we symbolize. We’re not backing down.”
Democratic leaders in California additionally backed a possible poll measure to permit voters to authorize a short lived congressional map change if Republican-led states transfer forward with new maps.
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi stated within the assertion that Republicans are “making an attempt to alter the foundations to redraw Congressional district maps and rig the elections of their favor.”
“Democrats should reply to Republicans’ blatant partisan energy seize. We can’t and won’t unilaterally disarm,” she stated.
Newsom has already said California will transfer ahead with a November poll measure that will let voters briefly regulate the state’s congressional map if Texas or different GOP-led states observe by with their redistricting plans.
On the similar time, Newsom has stated the state will stay dedicated to unbiased redistricting, and he characterised any California motion as non permanent and voter-approved. New maps, which Newsom stated had been already reviewed by the state’s unbiased redistricting fee, can be prepared for scrutiny this week.
“You’re taking part in with fireplace, risking the destabilization of our democracy, whereas realizing that California can neutralize any beneficial properties you hope to make,” Newsom stated in his letter to the president. “This try and rig congressional maps to carry onto energy earlier than a single vote is solid within the 2026 election is an affront to American democracy.”
Newsom’s letter added that California “can’t stand idly by” if different states change maps earlier than the 2026 midterms, but additionally acknowledged that he prefers “unbiased, citizen-led” processes. He informed Trump that California would “fortunately” stand down if red-state efforts finish.
Texas Republicans have superior a plan so as to add seats to their congressional map, prompting greater than 50 Texas Democratic lawmakers to depart the state to forestall the required quorum.
“California is gerrymandered,” Trump told CNBC on Aug. 5. “We must always have many extra seats in Congress in California—it’s all gerrymandered. And we now have a chance in Texas to select up 5 seats.”
Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) has proposed a federal ban on mid-decade redistricting.
“Gerrymandering is an issue no matter which occasion does it, and it definitely shouldn’t be finished in the course of the last decade,” he stated.
Kiley stated that in his view, what Newsom was making an attempt in California “goes past that.”
The combat over timing and course of now sits with state leaders and, in California, could possibly be put earlier than voters this fall. Newsom’s workplace has not launched a ultimate poll measure, and Texas lawmakers stay in a standoff over the particular session calendar.
The White Home didn’t reply to a request for touch upon the letter from The Epoch Occasions earlier than publication time.
Aldgra Fredly contributed to this report.
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