1:50California Gov. Gavin Newsom puts his signature on legislation to overhaul the state’s U.S. House boundaries on August 21, 2025 in Sacramento, California. To push back against Texas House Republicans’ attempt to overhaul their congressional map in advance of the 2026 midterms, California Democrats embraced a proposed constitutional change that would let them temporarily adjust their own district lines, possibly netting their party five extra House seats. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Lawmakers in the state’s Capitol on Thursday approved the package of measures that will place newly crafted congressional districts before voters in a November special election, as a direct response to the redistricting push advancing in Texas.
Citizens will soon decide whether to adopt maps that could shift five now-Republican districts into Democratic hands, in what is expected to be a fiercely fought and expensive special election.
Gov. Newsom, who had been sued by Republican legislators over the effort, praised the legislation’s passage Thursday before appending his signature to the bills.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs bills dealing with redrawing the state’s congressional districts on August 21, 2025 in Sacramento, California. Reacting to the Texas House GOP’s plan to revise congressional boundaries ahead of the 2026 midterms, California’s Democratic majority embraced a constitutional amendment that would allow a one-time redraw of its own map, potentially adding five more U.S. House seats for Democrats. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
"I’m pleased to sign a measure unlike anything any other U.S. governor has ever endorsed — a statute that hands the final say on the map to the voters," Newsom remarked, adding that California would become the first state to "give its own citizens direct authority over district boundaries. That has never happened before."
Across most of the country — as in Texas — lawmakers redraw and ratify congressional districts within the legislature.
During his remarks, the governor slammed former President Donald Trump for pressing Texas and other red states to overhaul their district maps.
"He refuses to prevail under the long-standing rules; he doesn’t adhere to any at all," Newsom said of Trump, concluding, "We are pushing back. Texas fired first. We wouldn’t be taking this step if Texas hadn’t acted."
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs a measure ordering a special election on revised congressional boundaries in Sacramento, Calif., on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. Godofredo A. Vasquez/AP
Prominent Democrats nationwide applauded the step, among them Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, who said in a statement, "Every voter in California should support the Democrats’ proposal to balance the scales. This goes beyond California; the core principle is whether Americans, not Donald Trump, get to choose their representatives."
The governor, who launched the ballot-map campaign last week, collected $6.2 million over the past seven days from roughly 200,000 contributors, his campaign confirmed to ABC News.
The New York Times first reported that fundraising figure.
Legislative passage came one day after Texas Republicans scored a win in their redraw effort — yet California Democrats prepared their own maneuver, turning the redistricting showdown into a surrogate clash between Trump and Newsom.
Following hours of floor debate Wednesday, the Texas House passed a measure establishing new House boundaries that could turn five districts Republican by solidifying GOP advantages.
Democrats, who had spent weeks out of state to block a quorum, now plan to challenge the maps in court.
Speaker Dustin Burrows bangs the gavel to restore order amid a heated debate over House Bill 4, the new redistricting measure, during a chamber session in the Texas Capitol, August 20, 2025, in Austin.Brandon Bell/Getty Images
"Major VICTORY for Texas!!! All approved, five extra House seats on the horizon, and the protection of your Rights, Liberties, and Nation itself. Texas never disappoints," Trump, who had urged the remap, posted late Wednesday on his social-media site.
On Thursday morning the Texas Senate redistricting panel advanced the House-revised congressional map, teeing the bill up for full-Senate consideration. The measure appears headed straight to Gov. Greg Abbott.
Crowds wait for Gov. Gavin Newsom to speak, Aug. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
"While Democrats abandoned their posts and ran off to other states, Republicans kept working and remained loyal to Texas. As soon as the Senate passes the bill it will arrive on my desk and I’ll sign it," Abbott posted Wednesday.
Both chambers of the California Legislature convened Thursday and approved the trio of bills that constitute the state’s redistricting package.
Assembly Democratic member Mark Berman, backing one of the measures, continued to frame prospective redistricting as resistance to Trump and to Texas’ mid-decade remap.
"Let me be unequivocal: we did not seek this battle, and we are reluctant participants, but with our republic itself at stake, we will not shrink from it," he declared.
Newsom, who stressed that California’s redraw would activate only if other states alter their lines, posted late Wednesday on X: "Congratulations @GregAbbott_TX—you’re now destined to be remembered as one of Donald Trump’s most obedient lapdogs. Dismantling the core values on which our nation was built. Quite a legacy."
Republican Rep. Todd Hunter argues in favor of House Bill 4, the newly filed redistricting proposal, during a House session in the Texas Capitol, August 20, 2025, in Austin. Brandon Bell/Getty Images
In another message he simply wrote, "Game on, Texas."
Former President Barack Obama addressed the controversy Tuesday evening, voicing support for Newsom.
"Since Texas is following a partisan White House playbook that tells states to gerrymander for political gain mid-decade—something the framers never intended—I deeply respect how Governor Newsom has handled this challenge," Obama said at a fundraiser in Martha’s Vineyard.
"He’s made it clear that ideally he wouldn’t redraw lines—even though we could pick up more seats—but one party cannot be allowed to tilt the field alone. Because California is large enough to offset Texas, it’s in a position to restore balance," he added.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, August 15, 2025, in Austin and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, August 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. Getty Images
Trump, writing on his own platform early Thursday, assailed Newsom and claimed the governor is "tanking in the polls."
"He is seen as the man dismantling what was once the Great State of California," the former president posted.
California GOP lawmakers argue that hauling new maps onto the ballot is excessively expensive and undermines the electorate’s earlier decision to create independent commissions for redistricting.
Republican Leader in the Assembly, James Gallagher, said Thursday that all the remapping maneuvers—whether from Trump, Abbott, or Newsom—are misguided.
"Gavin can move ahead. He’s the governor. Abbott can do the same in Texas. You fight fire with fire and the result is everything burns," he warned.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
