Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled his plan to redraw the state’s congressional maps in response to a Republican-led effort in Texas Thursday, setting up a standoff against a coalition of opponents.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is leaning into the redistricting fight as he looks to build his national profile ahead of a potential 2028 bid, but the move comes with political risks. Newsom

The state’s voters would need to approve redrawing of congressional maps in a special election Nov. 4.

The measure, which would appear on the ballot in the state in November if lawmakers approve it, is a response to Texas Republicans' mid-decade redistricting push.

Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to roll out an official campaign on Thursday in Los Angeles advocating for California to redraw its congressional districts and offset a similar GOP-led effort in Texas to net the party an additional five U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterms.

The governor must convince Californians to adopt a ballot initiative allowing Democrats to redraw congressional maps and neutralize GOP gains in Texas.

California voters widely prefer keeping the state’s independent redistricting commission, new polling shows, as Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) threatens to bypass it to counter GOP gerrymandering in other states.

Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting push is running into a wall of public opposition, a new poll shows. Newsom’s