Gov. Gavin Newsom calls for a special election to allow for a new congressional map in California

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday called on California lawmakers to approve a November ballot measure that would allow them to redraw the state's congressional map to fight back against Republicans' mid-decade redistricting plans in Texas and elsewhere.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday called on California lawmakers to approve a November ballot measure that would allow them to redraw the state's congressional map to fight back against Republicans' mid-decade redistricting plans in Texas and elsewhere.

Newsom's proposal, called the “Election Rigging Response Act,” would pave the way for California Democrats to circumvent the independent commission that controls the map-drawing process in the state and pass new congressional lines that would be more favorable to their party.

Republicans in Texas, with President Donald Trump's backing, are pursuing a new congressional map that would allow them to gain up to five more House seats.

"It's not complicated. We're doing this in reaction to a president of the United States that called a sitting governor of the state of Texas and said, 'Find me five seats,'" Newsom said. "We're doing it in reaction to that act. We're doing it mindful of our higher angels and better angels. We're doing it mindful that we want to model better behavior, as we've been doing for 15 years in the state of California with our independent redistricting commission. But we cannot unilaterally disarm."

California Democrats need approval from others in to sidestep the state’s independent redistricting commission, and the clock is ticking for lawmakers to approve a ballot initiative for this year's Nov. 4 election. If the measure passes, it would allow new maps to be enacted in time for the 2026 midterm elections.