California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a stark warning this week, vowing retaliation if Texas Republicans proceed with a proposed congressional redistricting plan that would eliminate five Democratic seats ahead of the 2026 election.
“Donald Trump asks for five seats, and Greg Abbott automatically bends the knee,” Newsom said in a social media post. “The 2026 election is being rigged. California won’t sit back and watch this happen.”
Newsom’s comments were echoed by other top Democrats, including New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Rep. Elissa Slotkin, who accused Texas officials of attempting to manipulate the electoral map to secure GOP dominance.
The controversy erupted after Texas Republicans unveiled a preliminary congressional map that heavily targets Democratic-held districts in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and South Texas, according to The Texas Tribune.
Democrats in the Texas Legislature are reportedly exploring extreme measures to block the plan — including the possibility of fleeing the state to deny the House a quorum, a tactic previously used in 2021. Lawmakers who do so could face a $500 daily fine and possible arrest. House rules prohibit the use of campaign funds to cover these penalties, but Democrats say a fundraising network is already in place, with an estimated $1 million a month needed to support such a move.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett noted that since Texas places few restrictions on outside income for lawmakers, they could legally accept donations as personal compensation. Still, she said legal action could be the first step: “I think the first move is to have attorneys ready to challenge the legality of these rules.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton responded forcefully, saying his office stands ready to pursue and arrest any Democratic lawmakers who attempt to flee to block the redistricting vote. “We will help hunt them down and compel their attendance,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee has begun mobilizing tens of thousands of grassroots advocates across the country to combat redistricting efforts they view as partisan gerrymandering.
“This is about the integrity of American democracy,” Newsom said. “And California will not be silent.”
