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Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs legislation putting congressional redistricting on November's ballot, on August 21, 2025 in Sacramento.
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
'Fighting Fire With Fire': California Puts Retaliatory Redistricting on November Ballot
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the move is aimed at countering President Donald Trump's "attempt to rig the 2026 election and redistrict his way out of accountability in states like Texas."
Aug 21, 2025
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday swiftly signed legislation passed by state lawmakers to let voters decide this November whether to approve a redrawn congressional map designed to counter Texas Republicans' gerrymandering at the behest of President Donald Trump.
"California is countering [Trump's] attempt to rig the 2026 election and redistrict his way out of accountability in states like Texas," Newsom said on social media. "We're fighting fire with fire—giving the power to the people to fight back and demand nationwide independent redistricting."
The move followed Wednesday's approval by the GOP-controlled Texas Legislature of a Trump-backed plan to redraw the state's congressional map to create five new Republican districts ahead of next year's midterm elections. The California map aims to win five more Democratic seats in 2026.
"Let me be crystal clear, we don't want this fight, and we didn't choose this fight, but with our democracy on the line, we cannot and will not run away from this fight," Democratic Assemblyman Marc Berman (D-23) said prior to Thursday's vote.
National Democrats welcomed California's move, with Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin saying: "This isn't just about California. The basic premise of Americans—instead of Donald Trump—choosing their elected officials is at stake."
While some progressives, including former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner, have spoken out against retaliatory redistricting, many others cheered California's fight.
"The response by Democrats in California to counter-balance is being triggered by a blatant GOP plot to steal the 2026 midterms," former US Labor Secretary Robert Reich wrote on X. "This isn't a race to the bottom. It's a means of avoiding the bottom."An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
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californiademocratic national committeedonald trumpelection 2026gavin newsomken martinmarc bermannina turnerrepublican partyrobert reichtexasgerrymandering
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday swiftly signed legislation passed by state lawmakers to let voters decide this November whether to approve a redrawn congressional map designed to counter Texas Republicans' gerrymandering at the behest of President Donald Trump.
"California is countering [Trump's] attempt to rig the 2026 election and redistrict his way out of accountability in states like Texas," Newsom said on social media. "We're fighting fire with fire—giving the power to the people to fight back and demand nationwide independent redistricting."
The move followed Wednesday's approval by the GOP-controlled Texas Legislature of a Trump-backed plan to redraw the state's congressional map to create five new Republican districts ahead of next year's midterm elections. The California map aims to win five more Democratic seats in 2026.
"Let me be crystal clear, we don't want this fight, and we didn't choose this fight, but with our democracy on the line, we cannot and will not run away from this fight," Democratic Assemblyman Marc Berman (D-23) said prior to Thursday's vote.
National Democrats welcomed California's move, with Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin saying: "This isn't just about California. The basic premise of Americans—instead of Donald Trump—choosing their elected officials is at stake."
While some progressives, including former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner, have spoken out against retaliatory redistricting, many others cheered California's fight.
"The response by Democrats in California to counter-balance is being triggered by a blatant GOP plot to steal the 2026 midterms," former US Labor Secretary Robert Reich wrote on X. "This isn't a race to the bottom. It's a means of avoiding the bottom."From Your Site Articles
- 'You Have Poked the Bear': Defiant Gavin Newsom Puts Trump on Notice in Speech Pushing New Maps ›
- Watchdog Unveils Standards for Countermeasures to 'Authoritarian' GOP Gerrymandering ›
- In Response to GOP Gerrymandering, O'Rourke Calls for Dems to 'Match Fire with Fire' ›
- DLCC Backs Redistricting to Fight GOP's 'Craven' Gerrymandering Scheme ›
- 'Playing With Fire': Gavin Newsom Warns Trump He Will Wipe California GOP Off the Map ›
- Newsom Says He's Moving Ahead With New California Maps That 'Will Be Devastating for MAGA' ›
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday swiftly signed legislation passed by state lawmakers to let voters decide this November whether to approve a redrawn congressional map designed to counter Texas Republicans' gerrymandering at the behest of President Donald Trump.
"California is countering [Trump's] attempt to rig the 2026 election and redistrict his way out of accountability in states like Texas," Newsom said on social media. "We're fighting fire with fire—giving the power to the people to fight back and demand nationwide independent redistricting."
The move followed Wednesday's approval by the GOP-controlled Texas Legislature of a Trump-backed plan to redraw the state's congressional map to create five new Republican districts ahead of next year's midterm elections. The California map aims to win five more Democratic seats in 2026.
"Let me be crystal clear, we don't want this fight, and we didn't choose this fight, but with our democracy on the line, we cannot and will not run away from this fight," Democratic Assemblyman Marc Berman (D-23) said prior to Thursday's vote.
National Democrats welcomed California's move, with Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin saying: "This isn't just about California. The basic premise of Americans—instead of Donald Trump—choosing their elected officials is at stake."
While some progressives, including former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner, have spoken out against retaliatory redistricting, many others cheered California's fight.
"The response by Democrats in California to counter-balance is being triggered by a blatant GOP plot to steal the 2026 midterms," former US Labor Secretary Robert Reich wrote on X. "This isn't a race to the bottom. It's a means of avoiding the bottom."From Your Site Articles
- 'You Have Poked the Bear': Defiant Gavin Newsom Puts Trump on Notice in Speech Pushing New Maps ›
- Watchdog Unveils Standards for Countermeasures to 'Authoritarian' GOP Gerrymandering ›
- In Response to GOP Gerrymandering, O'Rourke Calls for Dems to 'Match Fire with Fire' ›
- DLCC Backs Redistricting to Fight GOP's 'Craven' Gerrymandering Scheme ›
- 'Playing With Fire': Gavin Newsom Warns Trump He Will Wipe California GOP Off the Map ›
- Newsom Says He's Moving Ahead With New California Maps That 'Will Be Devastating for MAGA' ›
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