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 crimson states, who’re appearing in your request to attract new congressional maps by means of 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 conferences 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.
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In a press release 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 examine” 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 understanding 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 get together. We swore to defend the Structure and the individuals we signify. We’re not backing down.”
Democratic leaders in California additionally backed a possible poll measure to permit voters to authorize a brief congressional map change if Republican-led states transfer forward with new maps.
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi stated within the assertion that Republicans are “attempting to vary 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 stated California will transfer ahead with a November poll measure that will let voters quickly modify the state’s congressional map if Texas or different GOP-led states observe by means of with their redistricting plans.
On the identical time, Newsom has stated the state will stay dedicated to impartial 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 impartial redistricting fee, will probably be prepared for scrutiny this week.
“You might be enjoying with fireplace, risking the destabilization of our democracy, whereas understanding 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 forged 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 in addition acknowledged that he prefers “impartial, citizen-led” processes. He advised 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 go away the state to forestall the mandatory quorum.
“California is gerrymandered,” Trump advised CNBC on Aug. 5. “We should always have many extra seats in Congress in California—it’s all gerrymandered. And we’ve a possibility 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 get together does it, and it actually shouldn’t be finished in the course of the last decade,” he stated.
Kiley stated that in his view, what Newsom was trying in California “goes past that.”
The battle over timing and course of now sits with state leaders and, in California, might be put earlier than voters this fall. Newsom’s workplace has not launched a closing 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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