In conclusion
Together, Texas Democrats and Governor Gavin Newsom pushed California’s plan to redraw congressional boundaries and override a Texas redistricting plan. Next week is anticipated to see the release of the suggested map.
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Half a dozen Democratic lawmakers who left Texas to thwart a Republican-led redistricting plan flew to Sacramento on Friday to call for California to take retaliatory action as pressure grows for their return.
Alongside former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, key legislative leaders, and Governor Gavin Newsom, the Texas delegation visited the historic governor’s home. Newsom’s plan to redraw California congressional lines in favor of Democrats was publicly backed for the first time. They anticipate releasing the suggested map the following week.
As Texas state representative Ann Johnson stated, “We are here because we do know that courage is contagious, and we are here to give hope to others to stand up and be courageous in this moment.”
Earlier this week, almost all of the Texas Legislature’s Democratic caucus departed the state to deny Republicans a quorum and stop them from pursuing their redistricting scheme. Texas Republicans are pushing a plan to flip five Democratic seats in the U.S. House of Representatives at the request of President Donald Trump, who wants to preserve the slim GOP majority in the chamber.
The Democrats’ ability to resist as GOP leaders call for their return is uncertain. In addition to $500 fines for each day the members are absent, the House has issued civil arrest warrants for the missing politicians, and the FBI is working to find them. On Friday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that 13 of them will be removed from office.
We fight this battle day by day. One of the lawmakers Paxton is trying to have removed, Texas state representative Gina Hinojosa, stated, “We fight to win today and tomorrow we assess.”
In an effort to generate support for his redistricting proposal, Newsom has invited Democratic lawmakers from Texas at the governor’s home twice in as many weeks. He intends to hold a special election on November 4 and ask Californians to choose a new plan that favors Democrats over the congressional district lines created by the state’s independent panel.
A weak majority of 52% of California voters supported the campaign in November, according to preliminary internal polling that was presented to state lawmakers in private meetings on Sunday. However, this support might not be sufficient to withstand a fierce fall campaign that is likely to attract national attention and resources.
I believe it will be approved by the electorate. “I believe that the voters are aware of the stakes,” Newsom stated on Friday. America’s most anti-Trump state is where we reside.
Legislature will quickly take up redistricting
California can no longer wait to see if Texas takes action since there is not much time left to meet the statutory deadline of August 22 for the November special election. The Legislature is anticipated to take up the plan as soon as it returns from summer holiday on August 18, but Democratic leaders in California are still working on the proposal’s phrasing and district lines.
According to Newsom, trigger language will also be included in the California redistricting proposal. The new plan won’t go into force until Texas or other states redistrict their districts before to the 2026 midterm elections.
According to sources who were not allowed to speak to CalMatters, the redesigned map primarily attempts to counteract the possible gains in Texas by turning five Republican-leaning districts into firmly Democratic ones and supporting Democrats in a number of swing seats.
Reps. Doug LaMalfa of Chico, who represents the northeastern corner of California; Kevin Kiley of Rocklin, whose expansive district stretches down the state’s eastern border; Darrell Issa of Escondido, who spans southern Riverside and eastern San Diego counties; and David Valadao of Hanford and Ken Calvert of Corona, who are perennial Democratic targets in the Central Valley and Riverside County, respectively, may be doomed.
Republicans’ allegation that the new plan was created behind closed doors without voter involvement was rejected by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas on Friday.
In the weeks and months preceding this election, voters will have the chance to study and comprehend these maps after they are made public, Rivas stated. Please let me know if there is any state with a more open procedure where voters will have the final say on these updated maps.
Other states are still debating whether to enter a nationwide arms race for control of the House as California and Texas step up their efforts. Republican Governor Mike Braun of Indiana, whose Democrats control two of nine congressional seats, was hesitant to commit to redistricting the state following a visit this week by Vice President J.D. Vance.
California’s 43-member Democratic House delegation is led by Rep. Zoe Lofgren of San Jose, who stated Friday that all 43 members of the delegation are in favor of the redistricting plan.
As a result of their inability to defend their agenda and lack of viable ideas to offer the American people, Pelosi accused Trump and House Republicans of attempting to rig the upcoming election. She said that California had the right to defend democracy by retaliating.
According to her, it is our duty to demonstrate that our flag is intact and that everyone is entitled to liberty and justice despite the darkness of the Trump government.
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