Why Democrats Are Rallying Behind Governor Newsom’s Plan to Counter Texas Redistricting Maps & Stop Trump from Rigging The 2026 Election
Donald Trump and Texas Republicans are making an unprecedented power grab to steal congressional seats and rig the 2026 election before voting even begins. Other Republican states are following suit. They want to steal enough seats to control Congress regardless of how the people vote. This isn’t politics as usual. It’s an emergency for our democracy.
We have already seen how Trump has illegally imposed tariffs and hurt California families, denied disaster assistance to fire victims, and ordered mass arrests without warrants. The 2026 election for Congress represents our only chance to provide an essential check and balance on Trump’s dangerous agenda. If Californians don’t act now, Donald Trump will seize total power for two more years Trump and Republicans don’t fight fair, and Democrats need to recognize this and stop playing with one hand tied behind their backs. MAGA is trying to steal congressional seats in Texas and other GOP states to keep their majorities in Congress.
That’s why Democratic members of Congress and state legislators in California are rallying behind Governor Newsom’s calls to put forward a statewide ballot measure to counter Texas’ moves. Some key parts of the plan that could go to California voters for approval:
If Texas and other Republican held states change their district boundaries to elect more Republicans to Congress in next year’s elections, in order to make fair on a national level, California will also change their boundaries to elect more Democrats in next year’s elections, to prevent the Republicans from rigging the system to keep them in power.
It affirms California’s commitment to national redistricting reform – retaining California’s Citizen Redistricting Commission for the regular redistricting after the 2030 census and declaring it state policy to support the use of fair, nonpartisan redistricting commissions nationwide.
It keeps California’s current commission drawn maps if Texas and other states retain their current maps.
This measure is strongly supported by Governor Newsom, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and the California Congressional Delegation. It will no doubt be strongly opposed by President Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and California Republicans – even more reason why Democrats in California and across the country need to support this initiative.
Internal polling shows a strong majority of Californians would support this type of initiative, but the campaign will need real resources to win and fight back against inevitable attacks from Trump and the far-right.
Our country desperately needs a check on Trump’s power. If Texas and other Republican held states try to rig the rules to elect more Republicans to Congress in next year’s elections, California has a duty to the country to stand up and take action.
