California Gov. Newsom Plans November Special Election on Congressional Redistricting

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced plans to call a special election in November to let voters decide on new congressional maps as a direct response to Texas's effort to redraw its political districts mid-decade, which aims to give Republicans an advantage in the 2026 House elections. Newsom accused President Trump of orchestrating Texas's redistricting to rig the midterm elections in favor of the GOP and vowed that California would 'fight fire with fire' by potentially redrawing its own districts to bolster Democratic control. The proposed California redistricting targets Republican-held seats and would require approval from both the state legislature, where Democrats hold supermajorities, and voters in the special election. Newsom emphasized transparency in the process, contrasting it with what he described as backroom dealings in Texas, and framed the move as necessary to protect California's interests against GOP efforts to maintain congressional dominance. Democratic leaders, including California members of Congress and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have discussed similar efforts to counteract Republican-led redistricting in other states. The battle over redistricting underscores the high stakes in the 2026 midterms, with both parties seeking to secure or regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.