Newsom Warns Trump California Can 'Neutralize' His Texas Redistricting Efforts
Newsom made the threat in a letter to Trump, who's backing a GOP-led effort to redraw five Texas districts in Republicans' favor ― something the president has said his party is 'entitled' to ahead of the 2026 midterms.
'If you will not stand down, I will be forced to lead an effort to redraw the maps in California to offset the rigging of maps in red states,' Newsom vowed. 'But if the other states call off their redistricting efforts, we will happily do the same. And American democracy will be better for it.'
It's not a step he takes lightly, continued Newsom, who said he believes legislative district maps should be drawn through 'independent, citizen-led efforts,' not via political maneuvering.
'You are playing with fire, risking the destabilization of our democracy, while knowing that California can neutralize any gains you hope to make,' he continued. 'This attempt to rig congressional maps to hold onto power before a single vote is cast in the 2026 election is an affront to American democracy.'
The White House did not immediately return a request for comment on Newsom's threat.
The letter comes after Democratic members of the Texas state House left the state to deny Republicans a quorum on the redistricting vote, outraging Gov. Greg Abbott (R), who sought to arrest them and remove at least one of them from office.
Republicans are also leading redistricting efforts in multiple other states, including in Indiana, Missouri, Ohio and South Carolina.
In a Fox News appearance Monday, Abbott claimed California and New York were both already gerrymandered and vowed to pursue even more GOP-friendly districts in Texas if Newsom proceeds with the plan he outlined to Trump.
'If California thinks they're going to move their needle to the extreme and eliminate five Republican numbers of the United States Congress there, Texas is not going to do five ― we will add 10 more Republican seats using the same procedure they're using in California,' he said.
Related...
Beto O'Rourke Trashes Texas Republicans: 'These Motherf**kers Are Panicking'
Texas State Rep. Isn't Backing Down From Fighting 'Overtly Racist' Redistricting Map
Greg Abbott Lobs New Threat At Democrats Who Fled Texas To Stop Gerrymandering
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