California Democrats Advance Plan to Cut Out GOP House Seats in Retaliation

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The California Assembly moved on Thursday to start the process to redraw the state’s Congressional districts in retaliation for Texas Republicans gerrymandering their state to try and net five additional House seats – at the behest of President Donald Trump. The state legislature passed the first of three bills that will try and redraw California’s districts to more favor Democrats.

California’s state constitution, unlike in Texas, requires that an independent nonpartisan panel draw the state’s Congressional map. The bill California Democrats passed would place a constitutional amendment on November’s ballot to allow the Democrats in the state to bypass that provision and put in place the Democrat-approved map.

The bill was amended at the last minute to take out language that would allow for the changes to go forward only if Texas continued to advance its plan to redraw its map.

Newsom has said he plans to immediately sign the bill into law ahead of Friday’s deadline to get new measures on the November ballot. Newsom’s office posted to X about the vote, writing, “Texas acted. California will now respond. The trigger has been triggered.”

Newsom has escalated his attacks on Trump and the GOP in recent weeks, viciously mocking Trump on social media. He joined progressive podcasters on Wednesday and spoke about his new strategy in the context of the gerrymandering battle. “This is radical rigging of a midterm election,” Newsom said on The Siren podcast. “Radical rigging of an election. Destroying, vandalizing this democracy, the rule of law. So, I’m sorry. I know some peoples’ sensibilities. I respect and appreciate that. But right now, with all due respect, we’re walking down a damn different path. We’re fighting fire with fire. And we’re gonna punch these sons of bitches in the mouth.”

This is a developing story and will be updated.