Newsom Criticizes Trump’s Plans for Gerrymandering

Governor Gavin Newsom, joined by six Texas Democratic lawmakers, accused President Trump and the GOP of attempting to “rig” the Capitol for next year during a recent press conference. He noted that “they play with a different set of rules,” highlighting the risk of disregarding the country’s long-standing democratic principles. “We won’t let that happen,” he asserted.

Following a meeting at the governor’s mansion in Sacramento, the Texas legislators spoke to reporters about the contentious political landscape regarding election maps, which could potentially influence the upcoming medium-term elections.

This week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, acting on Trump’s request, convened a special session focused on redefining the Sekishu area to assist Republicans in gaining congressional seats. This effort is linked to a gerrymandering initiative aimed at ensuring the GOP retains its majority in the House. If Democrats gain control, they could obstruct Trump’s agenda, which includes measures on immigration, tariffs, climate action, and LGBTQ+ rights.

Newsom indicated ongoing discussions with California legislative leaders, suggesting they might mirror Trump’s tactics. Texas Democrats, who traveled to California to meet with Newsom, vowed to fight against Trump’s maneuvers.

They emphasized, “We will utilize all available resources in Texas to challenge this illegal rezoning, which threatens historic African-American and Latino districts.” Additionally, a separate group of Texas legislators is expected to engage with Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.

Revising district maps to favor Democrats represents a significant undertaking in California, which has worked for a decade to eliminate political bias in the redistricting process. In 2010, California voters empowered an independent commission to determine U.S. House district boundaries, distancing this power from political influence.

To modify the maps before the upcoming elections, state legislators might need to propose constitutional amendments to voters, seeking to amend the redistricting process outside the independent commission’s framework. This voting must occur in a special election prior to the June primary.

Newsom is exploring legal avenues that could permit the California Legislature to redraw its map with a two-thirds majority. The Governor’s Office noted that while the law mandates redistricting post-census every ten years, it remains unclear regarding changes in between those periods.

Newsom’s legal team believes Congress might be able to adjust their districts without a formal vote. His initiative to counter Trump’s gerrymandering approach has elicited mixed reactions. Newsom contends that if Democrats continue to adhere strictly to the rules, they might keep losing ground. Still, others express concerns about the overall integrity of national election outcomes when both parties resort to overtly political tactics.

Texas Republicans have faced long-standing accusations of crafting political maps aimed at undermining the influence of Black and Latino voters, a controversy that has ignited numerous lawsuits since 2021. Experts in California suggest that redrawing their map could allow Democrats to capture at least five seats currently held by Republicans.

Democrats seem positioned to gain more from gerrymandering, particularly in California, where there have been attempts at nonpartisan redistricting, compared to Texas, where maps heavily favor the GOP. Anchia remarked, “It’s no surprise that Texas has discriminated against people of color in rezoning since 1970.” He cautioned that pursuing this approach could harm not just Texans but Americans more broadly.

Historically, the party holding the White House tends to lose seats in the first election following a presidential race. With Republicans controlling both the Senate and the House, a Democratic gain could pose significant challenges for Trump’s presidency.

Recent polling indicates Trump’s approval rating dipped to a low of 37%, barely above the 34% recorded at the end of his first semester in office. Trump has publicly expressed optimism about Republicans potentially gaining five seats in Texas.