• California Governor Gavin Newsom proposes redistricting to offset changes in Texas.
• The special election on November 4 aims to create five new Democratic congressional seats.
• Newsom describes the situation as a response to Donald Trump's efforts to manipulate congressional elections.
• Democratic lawmakers in Texas have fled the state to block Republican redistricting plans.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a plan to redraw electoral districts in response to Republican gerrymandering efforts in Texas, particularly those supported by Donald Trump. On November 4, a special election will be held to seek voter approval for new congressional maps that aim to add five Democratic seats in California, thus countering potential gains for Republicans in Texas as they attempt to redraw their congressional districts. "Today is Liberation Day in the State of California," Newsom declared at a press conference in Los Angeles, emphasizing the significance of this initiative, which he positions as crucial ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, according to trtglobal, scmp, and bbc.

The redistricting battle comes as Texas Republicans, led by Governor Greg Abbott, push to flip Democratic seats in their state. Newsom criticized this effort as a "rigging" of the electoral system and a naked attempt to secure Republican advantages at the upcoming elections, which he believes undermines democratic processes. During the announcement, he highlighted the need to meet Republican strategies with equally aggressive countermeasures, stating, "We have got to recognise the cards that have been dealt, and we have got to meet fire with fire," according to reuters, trtglobal, and bbc.

At the same time, more than 50 Texas Democrats have fled to other states, including California, to avoid legislative proceedings aimed at approving the gerrymandered maps in Texas. This exodus has denied Texas Republicans a quorum necessary to vote on their proposed redistricting plans. Abbott has threatened various repercussions against the fleeing lawmakers, which further intensifies the ongoing political tension. "They're trying to secure their position at all costs," Newsom remarked about Texas Republicans as he framed his initiative as a safeguard for democracy against undemocratic tactics, according to reuters, scmp, and bbc.

Newsom's proposal involves temporarily returning the power to draw the congressional maps back to state lawmakers, with a goal of having a transparent and public process. The necessary legislative support will need to be garnered from California's state legislature, where the Democratic majority hopes to secure a two-thirds approval to place the maps on the ballot for voter consideration. Former President Obama and other Democrats have shown support for this initiative, framing it as critical to maintaining competitive fairness in electoral politics as both parties vie for control over Congress, according to reuters and bbc.