Newsom Gets Revenge On GOP
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is rushing forward with a high-stakes special election this November—a move critics are calling a blatant political power grab aimed at locking in Democrat control of Congress before the 2026 midterms.
The ballot measure would give Democrats the ability to override California’s voter-approved independent redistricting commission and draw their own congressional maps. The goal? To add as many as five new Democrat-held House seats, matching Republican gains expected in Texas under President Trump’s leadership.
“We’re calling for a special election in the first week of November,” Newsom said, flanked by California Democrats and Texas lawmakers who fled their state to block GOP legislation. “We’re not going to unilaterally disarm.”
A Direct Response to Texas and Trump
Texas Republicans, encouraged by Trump, are moving aggressively to redraw their own House maps to secure five GOP pickups ahead of next year’s midterms. Newsom and California Democrats say their new maps are designed to “nullify” that effort.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), chair of the state’s Democrat delegation, admitted the plan could shift five seats away from Republicans without violating the Voting Rights Act. “Every single member of the California delegation is willing to support it,” she said.
Maps Coming in Days
California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D) confirmed the proposed maps will be released next week, giving voters “weeks and months” to review them before casting their ballots.
If voters approve the ballot measure, California would become the first Democrat-led state to formally dismantle its independent redistricting process—at least temporarily—specifically to counter GOP redistricting in Texas.
Critics Sound the Alarm
Conservatives warn the move sets a dangerous precedent, effectively allowing one-party control over election boundaries in the nation’s largest state.
“This isn’t about fairness—it’s about locking in power,” one political analyst told reporters. “Democrats want to control the process so they control the outcome.”
Bottom Line: Newsom’s plan could fundamentally alter the balance of power in Congress—just in time for the 2026 elections. For voters, November’s special election may be the last chance to stop it.
