California governor demands Trump abandon Texas redistricting push, threatens ballot measure response

California Gov Gavin Newsom is demanding that President Donald Trump abandon a GOP-led redistricting push in Texas following a Democratic walkout that blocked the vote in the Lone Star State over a Republican effort to redraw congressional maps The Democratic governor warned the partisan battle risks spiraling into a national redistricting arms race and urged Trump to stand down After days of aggressive back and forth between the two leaders Newsom tweeted from the official page of the Governor Newsom Press Office mocking Trump in what was ostensibly meant to mimic the president s idiosyncratic style of using all-caps and superlatives for plenty of of his posts DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST SAYS PARTY LACKS 'MORAL AUTHORITY' ON TEXAS REDISTRICTING FIGHT DONALD TACO TRUMP AS A LARGE NUMBER OF CALL HIM MISSED THE DEADLINE CALIFORNIA WILL NOW DRAW NEW MORE BEAUTIFUL MAPS THEY WILL BE HISTORIC AS THEY WILL END THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY DEMS TAKE BACK THE HOUSE BIG PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK WITH POWERFUL DEMS AND GAVIN NEWSOM YOUR FAVORITE GOVERNOR THAT WILL BE DEVASTATING FOR MAGA THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER GN the tweet read Newsom s hyperbolic Trump-mimicking tone suggested that California will be retaliating in the ongoing redistricting battle unless red states like Texas abort their partisan map plans The governor seemed to double down on comments on X from Monday in which he posted a video along with the caption Donald Trump It s time to call Greg Abbott and tell him to stand down You are not entitled to congressional seats If you do not call your lapdogs off CA will act swiftly and swiftly We will go to the ballot We will neutralize whatever gains you make We will not stand by while you light Democracy on fire CALIFORNIA LAUNCHES REDISTRICTING FIGHT TO NULLIFY TEXAS GOP PLAN WITH DEMS POISED TO GAIN SEATSThe post coincided with a letter to Trump from Monday accusing the president of playing with fire The governor explained he is prepared to do whatever it takes to combat any gains that the republicans may achieve through efforts in Texas You are playing with fire risking the destabilization of our democracy while knowing that California can neutralize any gains you hope to make Newsom advised Trump in the letter This attempt to rig congressional maps to hold onto power before a single vote is cast in the electoral contest is an affront to American democracy Newsom declared Newsom explained he was in favor of leaving the decision to independent commissions and that he would happily stand down if other states followed suit in the redistricting effort In another snarky all-caps tweet meant to mimic Trump s social media style Newsom s office summarized the letter DONALD TRUMP IF YOU DO NOT STAND DOWN WE WILL BE FORCED TO LEAD AN EFFORT TO REDRAW THE MAPS IN CA TO OFFSET THE RIGGING OF MAPS IN RED STATES BUT IF THE OTHER STATES CALL OFF THEIR REDISTRICTING EFFORTS WE WILL DO THE SAME THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER Newsom s threat could mark a dramatic reversal of California s voter-approved independent redistricting process and potentially require legislative action or even a statewide ballot measure While this is only intended as a political counterpunch the move has sparked debate among Democrats and Republicans about whether the party risks sacrificing its moral high ground on fair maps