Should California go through with a redistricting plan ahead of the midterm elections, it would have “profound impacts” nationally, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday.
The Democratic governor, during an Aug. 4 press conference, vowed to push forward with mid-cycle redistricting should Texas Republicans continue with their plan to redraw congressional district lines to help President Donald Trump‘s quest to add more Republicans to the House.
Newsom vehemently warned that California will “fight fire with fire” with redistricting — but said it would only be contingent on what happens in Texas.
“We’re working with the legislature on a trigger that if they (Texas) do move forward, California will not sit by idly and watch this democracy waste away,” Newsom said. “We’ll fight fire with fire, we’ll assert ourselves and we’ll punch above our weight, and it will have profound impacts on the national outcome, not just here in the state of California.”
“We’re not a small state,” the governor added. “Again, it will have profound national implications if we move forward, and I’m confident if we move forward, the people of this great state will support this effort.”
California will not sit idle as Texas does Trump’s bidding
We’ll fight back.
And make sure the people’s voices are heard! pic.twitter.com/itsCk3i8CJ
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) August 4, 2025
At stake — as California, Texas and other states scramble to consider redrawing maps — is control over the House for the final two years of Trump’s presidency. Republican states that are considering redistricting plans want to add more favorable seats to pass Trump’s agenda in the midterms, when, historically, the party in charge is less successful. Blue states, meanwhile, seek to counter those efforts or even build a stronger potential Democratic majority that would block the president’s plans.
Newsom said he was encouraged by California lawmakers who are beginning to signal support for redistricting. Members of California’s Democratic congressional delegation held a “preliminary” call on Monday to discuss the topic of redistricting.
“In normal times, I would not support mid-decade redistricting. But we’re not in normal times,” said Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance. “Republicans are forcing through a cynical, partisan gerrymandering effort without voter approval in Texas to try to hold onto power despite their deeply unpopular legislative record. In the face of unprecedented extremist attacks on our democracy and economy, California must do everything possible to fight back.”
But Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Hesperia, said mid-cycle redistricting “erodes voters’ trust in the impartiality of our democracy” — whether that’s in California or in Texas.
“Californians overwhelmingly approved a nonpartisan redistricting commission to take politics out of the process and ensure fair, transparent congressional maps,” Obernolte said. “I stand with the commission and the voters who created it.”
In California, it’s a voter-approved independent commission that’s tasked with drawing congressional boundaries. Newsom, who supported the constitutional measure when it passed in 2008, would need to repeal that in order to redo districts, possibly through a special election.
Staff writer Linh Tat contributed to this report.