California Governor Gavin Newsom is using a November special election to push a partisan redistricting plan that would erase Republican representation in the state—while framing the vote as a referendum on President Donald Trump.
Newsom recently signed legislation placing a new congressional map before voters, overriding the supposedly “independent” redistricting commission approved by Californians in 2008. The proposed map would hand Democrats at least four additional seats, cementing their control over more than 90% of the state’s 52 congressional districts, even though Republicans make up nearly 40% of the electorate.
Rather than defending the gerrymander on its merits, Newsom and his allies are trying to nationalize the vote. According to Politico, the campaign will be “a nationalized referendum on President Donald Trump,” with Newsom positioning the election as a way to “thwart the president’s agenda.” This strategy mirrors his successful 2021 recall defense, where he redirected focus away from his own failures and toward Trump.
The governor’s political machine is backed by powerful liberal interests, including the SEIU and billionaire anti-Trump Republican Bill Bloomfield—who ironically once championed California’s independent redistricting commission but now funds its dismantling due to his personal opposition to Trump.
Polls show the gerrymander plan has a plurality, not a majority, of support. Nonetheless, Newsom appears determined to use it not only to expand Democrat control of Congress but to boost his national profile ahead of a likely 2028 presidential run.
Charles Munger Jr., a moderate Republican, has pledged $10 million to defend the independent redistricting system, warning that California’s one-party dominance will only worsen if Newsom’s plan passes.
While Democrats decry redistricting in Texas and other GOP-led states, their push to eliminate Republican districts in California exposes a broader strategy: dominate blue states through gerrymandering while condemning the practice elsewhere.
