Headline Roundup • August 13th, 2025
Gov. Gavin Newsom Moves to Redistrict California
Politics,Gavin Newsom,US House,California,Greg Abbott,Texas,Redistricting,US House Of Representatives,Congress
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is furthering plans to redistrict California to combat Republican-led redistricting efforts in Texas.
The Details: Newsom wrote in a letter to President Donald Trump on Monday, “This attempt to rig congressional maps to hold onto power before a single vote is cast in the 2026 election is an affront to American democracy.” The governor's plan would add Democratic House seats in California to neutralize Republican seats in Texas. It would have to be added to California’s ballot by August 22nd, and would be then voted on during a November special election.
For Context: Fifty-one Democratic lawmakers left Texas in early August to prevent the approval of five new US House seats in the state. In response, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) moved to remove the lawmakers from office and later ordered their arrests.
How The Media Covered It: News coverage was similar across the political spectrum; however, Fox News (Right bias) used slanted language in referencing Newsom’s quotes as “snarky” and “hyperbolic.” The Hill (Center) noted the small possibility that Texas will not redistrict, thus ending Newsom’s efforts. HuffPost (Left) highlighted additional Republican-led redistricting efforts in other states.
Written by the AllSides staff (of humans). Learn more. Support our mission. Suggest an improvement to this summary.
Featured Coverage of this Story
AP Photo by Rich Pedroncelli
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...
California Democrats are moving forward with plans to potentially redraw the state’s congressional maps as a response to GOP-led redistricting efforts in Texas.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has said the Golden State is planning to put redistricting before voters during a special election in November, with the aim of adding several Democratic House seats to the blue stronghold.
California’s move is a direct response to redistricting efforts in Republican-led Texas, where Democratic state legislators have fled the state in a last-ditch bid to block a redraw backed by President Trump.
Here’s what to know...
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a committed thorn in Donald Trump’s side, told the president Monday that he’s prepared to redraw California’s districts in Democrats’ favor if he doesn’t call on Texas and other red states to halt their own GOP-friendly redistricting plans.
Newsom made the threat in a letter to Trump, who’s backing a GOP-led effort to redraw five Texas districts in Republicans’ favor ― something the president has said his party is “entitled” to ahead of the 2026 midterms.
“If you will not stand down, I will be forced to lead an effort to...
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