California Governor Gavin Newsom has stepped into the national spotlight with a sharp warning to President Donald Trump, saying he will push for redrawn congressional districts in his state if Republicans in Texas move forward with controversial mid-decade redistricting plans.
In a letter sent to Trump on Monday, Newsom accused the former president of supporting efforts to “rig” maps in Texas to secure additional Republican seats in the House of Representatives. “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 wrote.
Texas Redistricting Sparks National Tensions
The dispute centers on a Republican-backed proposal in Texas to approve new congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms. Analysts say the plan could eliminate as many as five Democratic-held seats, strengthening GOP control.
Republicans argue that Democrats have long used redistricting in states such as California, Illinois, and New York to favor their own party, pointing to what they see as years of partisan gerrymandering. But Democrats say Texas Republicans are undermining democratic principles by attempting a mid-decade redrawing outside of the standard census cycle.
The Texas plan has already fueled political drama. Dozens of Democratic lawmakers fled the state to deny Republicans a quorum in the legislature, halting the process and prompting sharp criticism from GOP leaders. Republican officials accused Democrats of abandoning both their duties and constituents still recovering from recent storms.
Newsom Issues His Own Warning
Newsom’s threat to counter Texas with new congressional maps in California drew immediate attention. Though California’s current districts were drawn by an independent redistricting commission, the governor suggested he would push for changes if Republicans proceed in Texas.
“You are playing with fire,” Newsom warned in his letter to Trump, accusing him of “risking the destabilization of our democracy.”
At stake in the fight is control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrats are currently just three seats away from reclaiming the majority, and only a limited number of congressional districts nationwide are seen as truly competitive.
Pushback from Texas Leaders
Texas Republicans were quick to respond. Governor Greg Abbott dismissed Newsom’s warning, telling CNN that his state could retaliate. “If California tries to gerrymander five more districts, listen, Texas has the ability to eliminate ten Democrats in our state. We can play that game more than they can because they have fewer Republican districts in their states.”
Meanwhile, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit with the state Supreme Court, arguing that Democratic lawmakers who fled to block the redistricting vote had effectively vacated their seats. “These cowards deliberately sabotaged the constitutional process and violated the oath they swore to uphold,” Paxton said in a statement.
A Growing National Battle
The showdown highlights how redistricting has become one of the most contentious issues in American politics. Traditionally tied to census years, mid-decade redraws are rare and often challenged in court. With the balance of power in Congress so narrow, even a handful of seats could tip control of the chamber in 2026.
While Newsom said he favors independent commissions over partisan legislatures for drawing districts, he added that California “cannot stand idly by as this power grab unfolds.”
Whether his threat will translate into real action remains uncertain. For now, the standoff between Texas Republicans and Democratic leaders has only deepened the partisan fight over who gets to shape the future of congressional representation.