California pushes left, Texas to the right, with US House control and
Trump agenda in play
[August 15, 2025]
By MICHAEL R. BLOOD, TRÂN NGUYỄN and NADIA LATHAN
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A political standoff in Texas over proposed House
maps that could hand Republicans five new seats is poised to enter a new
phase Friday, while heavily Democratic California plans to release its
own new maps intended to erase all but a sprinkle of the state's GOP
House districts in the fight over control of Congress.
The hectic maneuvering in the nation's two most populous states
underscored the stakes for both parties in the narrowly divided House
that could determine the fate of President Donald Trump's agenda in the
second half of his term.
On Thursday, Texas Democrats moved closer to ending a nearly two-week
walkout that has blocked the GOP’s redrawing of U.S. House maps before
the 2026 election. The Democrats announced they will return to the state
provided that Texas Republicans end a special session and California
releases its own redrawn map proposal, both of which were expected to
happen Friday.
However, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to call another
special session to push through new maps. Democratic lawmakers vowed to
take the fight to the courts.
In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom said his state will hold a Nov. 4
special election to seek approval of redrawn districts intended to give
Democrats five more U.S. House seats, in a counterpunch to undercut any
gains in Texas.
“We can’t stand back and watch this democracy disappear district by
district all across the country,” Newsom said at what amounted to a
campaign kickoff rally for the as-yet unreleased maps that Democrats
have been shaping behind closed doors. “We are not bystanders in this
world. We can shape the future.”
The two states have emerged as the center of a partisan turf war in the
House that could spiral into other states — as well as the courts — in
what amounts to a proxy war ahead of the 2026 elections.
Fight has gone national
Newsom's announcement Thursday marked the first time any state beyond
Texas has officially waded into the mid-decade redistricting fight. The
Texas plan was stalled when minority Democrats fled to Illinois, New
York and Massachusetts on Aug. 3 to stop the Legislature from passing
any bills.
Elsewhere, leaders from red Florida to blue New York are threatening to
write new maps. In Missouri, a document obtained by The Associated Press
shows the state Senate received a $46,000 invoice to activate six
redistricting software licenses and provide training for up to 10 staff
members.
Newsom encouraged other Democratic-led states to get involved.
“We need to stand up — not just California. Other blue states need to
stand up,” Newsom said.
House control could come down to a few seats in 2026
Republicans hold a 219-212 majority in the House, with four vacancies.
New maps are typically drawn once a decade after the census is
conducted. Many states, including Texas, give legislators the power to
draw maps. California is among states that rely on an independent
commission that is supposed to be nonpartisan.
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People await a news conference with California Gov. Gavin Newsom
Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose
Sanchez)
The California map would take effect only if a Republican state
moves forward, and it would remain through the 2030 elections. After
that, Democrats say they would return mapmaking power to the
independent commission approved by voters more than a decade ago.
Newsom goes to LA to launch campaign for new districts
In Los Angeles, Newsom and other speakers veered from discussing the
technical grist of reshaping districts — known as redistricting —
and instead depicted the looming battle as a conflict with all
things Trump, tying it explicitly to the fate of American democracy.
An overarching theme was the willingness to stand up to Trump, a
cheer-inducing line for Democrats as the party looks to regroup from
its 2024 losses.
“Donald Trump, you have poked the bear, and we will punch back,”
said Newsom, a possible 2028 presidential contender.
Opposition to California plan begins to take shape
Some people already have said they would sue to block the effort,
and influential voices including former California Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger may campaign against it.
“Gavin Newsom’s latest stunt has nothing to do with Californians and
everything to do with consolidating radical Democrat power,
silencing California voters, and propping up his pathetic 2028
presidential pipe dream,” National Republican Congressional
Committee spokesperson Christian Martinez said in a statement.
“Newsom’s made it clear: he’ll shred California’s Constitution and
trample over democracy — running a cynical, self-serving playbook
where Californians are an afterthought and power is the only
priority.”
California Democrats hold 43 of the state’s 52 House seats, and the
state has some of the most competitive House seats.
In California, lawmakers must officially declare the special
election, which they plan to do next week after voting on the new
maps. Democrats hold supermajorities in both chambers — enough to
act without any Republican votes — and Newsom said he is not worried
about winning the required support from two-thirds of lawmakers to
advance the maps.
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Nguyễn reported from Sacramento, and Lathan from Austin, Texas.
Associated Press writer David Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri,
contributed.
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