California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced today that the state will move forward with a special election to redraw congressional maps in an effort for California Democrats to win five more House seats in the 2026 midterms.
At a conference in Los Angeles, surrounded by prominent California Democrats, Newsom called for a special election on November 4 that would give voters the option to select new voting maps for the state. The maps would remain in effect through 2030.
The announcement comes as a result of the intensifying fight over gerrymandering in Texas, where President Donald Trump is backing a plan by Gov. Greg Abbott to redraw House election maps to favor GOP candidates.
Newsom said the special election on redrawing California’s House maps “affirms our desire to level the playing field.”
The frequent Trump foe took a dig at the president on stage in California, calling his effort “Liberation Day” in reference to Trump’s April 2 proclamation of the same name. Newsom said Trump “doesn’t believe in rules,” and said the president wanted to “rig” midterm elections.
“He knows his presidency ends in seventeen months…why else would you rig the system?” Newsom asked.
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Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., was similarly critical of Trump’s gerrymandering push.
“It’s corruption,” Padilla said on Thursday. “He’s trying to rig the system.”
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., warned Trump “not to poke the bear,” vowing to continue his opposition to the president’s national gerrymandering tactics.
“You come after our votes in California and we will fight you tooth and nail,” he said.
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