California Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom is threatening to scrap his state’s voter-approved independent redistricting process in a bid to retaliate against a Republican-led push to redraw congressional maps in Texas.
The move comes after Texas Democrats fled the state to block a vote on new maps.
The dispute prompted Newsom to demand that President Donald Trump “stand down” in the national redistricting fight.
Newsom warned that the GOP effort could spark a nationwide “arms race” over congressional boundaries.
In a letter to Trump on Monday, Newsom accused the president of “playing with fire.”
The governor also vowed to counter any Republican gains in Texas.
“You are playing with fire, risking the destabilization of our democracy, while knowing that California can neutralize any gains you hope to make,” Newsom wrote.
He called the Texas effort “an affront to American democracy” and said he favored leaving the process to independent commissions.
However, Newsom warned that he would abandon that position if red states pressed forward.
“If you do not call your lapdogs off, CA will act quickly and swiftly,” Newsom warned in a video posted to X.
“We will neutralize whatever gains you make.
“We will not stand by while you light Democracy on fire.”
WATCH:
Donald Trump: It’s time to call Greg Abbott and tell him to stand down. You are not “entitled” to 5 congressional seats.
If you do not call your lapdogs off, CA will act quickly and swiftly. We will go to the ballot. We will neutralize whatever gains you make. We will not stand… pic.twitter.com/hUyQ3Amep5
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) August 11, 2025
The California governor amplified his threat with a series of social media posts written in a style meant to mimic Trump’s online persona.
One message read:
“DONALD ‘TACO’ TRUMP, AS MANY CALL HIM, ‘MISSED’ THE DEADLINE!!!
“CALIFORNIA WILL NOW DRAW NEW, MORE ‘BEAUTIFUL MAPS,’ THEY WILL BE HISTORIC AS THEY WILL END THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY (DEMS TAKE BACK THE HOUSE!).
“BIG PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK WITH POWERFUL DEMS AND GAVIN NEWSOM — YOUR FAVORITE GOVERNOR — THAT WILL BE DEVASTATING FOR ‘MAGA.’
“THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER! — GN”
In another post summarizing his letter, Newsom’s office wrote:
“DONALD TRUMP, IF YOU DO NOT STAND DOWN, WE WILL BE FORCED TO LEAD AN EFFORT TO REDRAW THE MAPS IN CA TO OFFSET THE RIGGING OF MAPS IN RED STATES.
“BUT IF THE OTHER STATES CALL OFF THEIR REDISTRICTING EFFORTS, WE WILL DO THE SAME.”
Newsom’s comments signal he is prepared to override California’s independent commission process.
The threat is a dramatic shift that could require legislative action or even a statewide ballot measure.
The threat has sparked debate inside the Democratic Party over whether abandoning independent redistricting would undercut its claims of holding the moral high ground on fair maps.
Republicans argue the move reveals Democrats’ willingness to change the rules when it benefits their political power.
READ MORE – 15 Democrats Arrested for Election Fraud in Texas
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