LOS ANGELES (Diya TV) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday his state will hold a Nov. 4 special election to approve new congressional districts that could give Democrats five more U.S. House seats, escalating a nationwide redistricting fight. The decision comes in direct response to Republican efforts in Texas, where lawmakers are pushing new maps backed by President Donald Trump. Texas Republicans hope to gain five seats to keep their narrow majority in the House.
California and Texas, the nation’s two most populous states, now stand at the center of a political turf war. Both sides see redistricting as a way to shape control of Congress heading into the 2026 midterm elections. In Los Angeles, Newsom unveiled the plan at a rally packed with Democratic leaders, union members, and abortion rights advocates. The governor framed the fight as larger than redistricting, tying it to what he called the defense of democracy against Trump.
“We can’t stand back and watch this democracy disappear district by district all across the country,” Newsom said. “We are not bystanders in this world. We can shape the future.”
Newsom, seen as a possible 2028 presidential contender, used sharp language against Trump. “Donald Trump, you have poked the bear and we will punch back,” he said to cheers.
The California move is the first official counter to Texas in the mid-decade redistricting fight. In Texas, Democrats temporarily blocked a vote by leaving the state earlier this month. They said Thursday they will return if Texas Republicans end their current session and California advances its proposal. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to call another special session in Texas to advance the GOP-drawn maps.
Elsewhere, both Republican- and Democratic-led states are considering redrawing maps. Leaders in Florida and New York have raised the possibility, and documents show Missouri lawmakers have already bought redistricting software.
California Democrats hold supermajorities in both chambers of the Legislature, giving them the power to act without Republican votes. Lawmakers plan to approve the new maps next week before formally calling the special election. Newsom urged other Democratic states to join the effort. “We need to stand up — not just California. Other blue states need to stand up,” he said.
Under the plan, the new districts would only take effect if Republican states adopt similar changes. They would remain in place through the 2030 elections. After that, Democrats say they will return power to California’s independent redistricting commission, which voters created more than a decade ago to reduce partisan influence.
Republicans quickly denounced the move. National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Christian Martinez accused Newsom of pursuing a “pathetic 2028 presidential pipe dream.”
“Newsom’s made it clear: he’ll shred California’s Constitution and trample over democracy — running a cynical, self-serving playbook where Californians are an afterthought and power is the only priority,” Martinez said in a statement.
Some opponents have already threatened lawsuits to block the plan. Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who helped create the state’s independent commission, could campaign against Newsom’s proposal.
Republicans currently control the House with a 219-212 majority, with four seats vacant. California sends 52 members to Washington, and Democrats already hold 43 of those seats. Several of the remaining districts are highly competitive.
The new California map could strengthen Democratic chances in close races and shift the balance of power in Congress. The political clash coincided with another controversy outside Newsom’s event. U.S. Border Patrol agents were spotted patrolling near the Los Angeles venue, drawing sharp criticism from Newsom and others.
Gregory Bovino, chief of the patrol’s El Centro sector, told KTTV that agents were working to “make Los Angeles a safer place.” He added that he did not know Newsom was inside the building. The fight over redistricting in California and Texas is expected to spill into courts and other state legislatures. Both parties view the outcome as critical to controlling the House in 2026.
For Newsom, the battle also carries personal stakes as he raises his national profile ahead of a potential 2028 presidential run. His push to redraw California’s map sets the stage for a broader confrontation between Democrats and Republicans over how far states can go to tilt political lines in their favor.
