Newsom Threatens Response in Texas Redistricting Battle: ‘We Will Nullify’

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Friday that his state will move forward with plans for a November special election that would allow Democrats to redraw congressional maps and “nullify” what happens in Texas.

“Make no mistake, California is moving forward,” Newsom said at a news conference on Friday.

He appeared alongside former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a group of Texas Democratic lawmakers who left their home state a week ago to foil efforts by Texas Republicans to redraw House districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Newsweek has contacted the White House and Texas Governor Greg Abbott for comment via an email outside regular business hours.

Why It Matters

Texas, with the support of President Donald Trump, kicked off the redistricting battle with a map that would place five Democrats in districts he won by double digits in last year’s election. That effort is on pause as Democratic legislators left the state to deny a quorum for a vote. But other states, led by Democrats and Republicans, could follow suit.

What To Know

Newsom said Democrats still support California’s independent redistricting commission, but added that they must counter Trump’s efforts to give the GOP an advantage in next year’s midterm elections.

“We are talking about emergency measures to respond to what’s happening in Texas, and we will nullify what happens in Texas,” he said.

Representative Zoe Lofgren, chair of the California Democratic congressional delegation, told reporters that Democrats had found a way to create new maps that could help them gain five seats without running afoul of the Voting Rights Act.

California State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas said the proposed maps are expected to be made public next week.

The Texas House of Representatives on Friday failed to meet a quorum for the third time this week as Democratic lawmakers continued their walkout to block a vote on the redrawn maps. They are facing mounting fines for each day they are gone and civil arrest warrants issued by the state House.

The standoff is now threatening to spill into other states. Typically, redistricting happens once every 10 years following the census to adjust boundaries based on population changes. Mid-decade redistricting does happen from time to time, however, usually following legal challenges against maps accused of being gerrymandered, or amended in the interests of one side over another to create “safe” electoral seats.

What People Are Saying

Speaking about Trump and Republicans, Newsom said: “This is triggered. They drew first blood. We’re responding to this action and this is how we choose to respond. I hope other governors and other leaders across the country do the same.”

Asked about Newsom’s comments, Trump administration spokesperson Steven Cheung told the Los Angeles Times that Newsom, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, “is a loser of the highest order and he will never be president, no matter how hard he prostitutes himself to the press.”

Texas State Representative Ann Johnson, a Democrat, said during the news conference: “Make no mistake about it, we are running from nothing. We see the danger that is coming and we are running straight for it.”

Pelosi said during the news conference: “The president has paved over the Rose Garden. He’s paved over freedom of speech. He’s paved over freedom of education, the list goes on and on… We will not let him pave over free and fair elections in our country, starting with what he’s trying to do in Texas.”

She added: “It’s not a wrong in what we’re doing. This is self-defense for our democracy.”

President Donald Trump, referring to the 2024 presidential election, told CNBC on Tuesday: “I won Texas. I got the highest vote in the history of Texas, as you probably know, and we are entitled to five more seats.”

Texas Governor Greg Abbott on X: “Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty and are holding flood relief and property tax cuts hostage. I ordered Texas DPS to arrest and return every derelict House Democrat to the Texas Capitol.”

What’s Next

California voters would be asked to decide in a special election on November 4 to temporarily pause the congressional boundaries created by the independent redistricting commission and adopt the new maps for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The measure would specify that it would only take effect if Texas and other GOP-led states follow through with plans to redraw their maps to favor Republicans.

This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.