Gov. Newsom Pushes For Congressional Redistricting Special Election in November

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Thursday that he would push for a special election this November for Congressional redistricting, should Texas continue with their current plans for a mid-decade redistricting.

For the past several weeks, Governor Newsom has become the main opponent outside of Texas rallying against the lone star state’s attempt to redistrict for 2026. Last month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott added redistricting to the 2025 state agenda, saying that the U.S. Department of Justice raised concerns over the constitutionality of four districts in the state over where district lines were redrawn in 2021 following the 2020 Census. A map was released this week over what the plans are, showing that Republicans would likely gain up to five more seats with the new redistricting, helping raise the thin GOP lead in he U.S. House ahead of the 2026 elections.

“Redistricting is an essential step to preserving GOP control in Congress and advancing President Trump’s America First agenda,” said the Republican Party of Texas in a post on X on the redistricting plans.

Faced with a possible tougher mid-term battle for the House in 2026, Democrats blasted the plan, with Governor Newsom becoming one of the leading voices against Texas’ early redistricting. This caused Newsom to say that California could do something similar if Texas went with their plans, and even met with Texas Democratic leaders to discuss what to do.

“Donald Trump called up Governor Abbott for one simple reason: to rig the 2026 elections,” said Newsom in a statement last week. “California’s moral high ground means nothing if we’re powerless because of it. This moment requires us to be prepared to fight fire with fire. Whether that’s a special election, a ballot initiative, a bill, a fight in court. If they proceed in Texas, we will be ready.”

However, the issue ramped up this week, with Texas releasing a map of what state lawmakers will decide on. This led to Newsom to say on Thursday that he is now looking at a special election in California this November to decide on early redistricting, as the state switched over from the state legislature deciding on redistricting in 2008.

“I’m not going to sit back any longer in the fetal position, a position of weakness, when in fact California can demonstrably advance strength. If the American people are given a fair chance and a voice and a choice, we will take back Congress,” expressed Newsom. “The process would unfold in a way where maps will be made available in a transparent way. A special election would be called, likely to be the first week of November to approve the changes. We will go to the people of this state in a transparent way and ask them to consider the new circumstances, to consider these new realities.

“They’re doing a midterm rejection of objectivity and independence, an act that we could criticize from the sideline, or an act that we can respond to in kind – fight fire with fire. We’re not here to eliminate the [California Citizens Redistricting Commission (CCRC)]. We’re here to provide a pathway in ’26, ’28, and in 2030 for congressional maps on the basis of a response to the rigging of the system of the president of the United States. And it won’t just happen in Texas. I imagine he’s making similar calls all across this country. It’s a big deal. I don’t think it gets much bigger.”

Possible redistricting ahead

Reaction by California lawmakers was mixed. While many Democrats backed Newsom’s redistricting vote 100%, others said that the GOP would still lose without it in 2026. Meanwhile, Republicans criticized Newsom’s response, with some Democrats even joining them in saying how this wasn’t the proper way to proceed.

However, a California redistricting could also prove moot. GOP-led Ohio is currently looking at an early redistricting, with states like Indiana and Missouri possibly joining in as well. Should even Ohio just join Texas, it would overwhelming negate any possible gains California could have.

Despite this, California is looking at moving forward should Texas do so. Attorney General Rob Bonta is already working on a legal defense for it and has been outspoken in supporting Newsom on the matter.

“Those maps, they could be prepared by the Legislature,” explained Bonta earlier this week. “I think that’s the thinking here. The legislature would prepare the maps and then those maps would be presented to the people to vote in a special election.”

Finally, a big hurdle would be the cost. With California’s budget deficit in the billions, a special election this November would cost over $200 million. The last special election, the 2021 Governor recall, also cost the state $200 million.

Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA), accused Gov. Newsom of attempting to eliminate Republican representation in Congress. “He is plotting to abolish California’s voter-approved Citizens Redistricting Commission, seize its powers for himself, and relegate Republicans to just 3 congressional seats out of 52,” Kiley said.

“Newsom realizes he can’t win a fair election. So now he’s planning to take 50,000 Democrat-leaning voters, who currently have a different Member of Congress, and make them eligible to vote in my district,” Kiley said. “He will also make the same number of Republicans voters ineligible.” 

“It is the most corrupt scheme in our state’s history.”

As of Friday, neither Texas or California have officially instituted a 2026 redistricting effort, but final decisions on them are likely to be made soon.