ANKARA
California Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday announced that the state will redraw its electoral maps after US President Donald Trump failed to meet a deadline in an ongoing redistricting dispute between Democratic- and Republican-led states.
“DONALD “TACO” TRUMP, AS MANY CALL HIM, “MISSED” THE DEADLINE!!! CALIFORNIA WILL NOW DRAW NEW, MORE “BEAUTIFUL MAPS,” THEY WILL BE HISTORIC AS THEY WILL END THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY (DEMS TAKE BACK THE HOUSE!),” said the Governor Newsom Press Office on the American social media company X, mimicking the president’s style of writing on various social media platforms.
“BIG PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK WITH POWERFUL DEMS AND GAVIN NEWSOM — YOUR FAVORITE GOVERNOR — THAT WILL BE DEVASTATING FOR “MAGA.” THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER! — GN,” he added.
Several states have joined the escalating redistricting fight, with Newsom and other Democratic leaders warning they would draw counter-maps if Texas proceeded with its own redistricting plan.
In a letter Newsom sent to Trump on Monday, he said he favored leaving congressional map-drawing to independent commissions rather than partisan legislatures, and that he would “happily” refrain from action if other states dropped their efforts. However, he added, “California cannot stand idly by as this power grab unfolds.”
In another X post mimicking the president’s style on Monday, Newsom’s office wrote: “DONALD TRUMP, IF YOU DO NOT STAND DOWN, WE WILL BE FORCED TO LEAD AN EFFORT TO REDRAW THE MAPS IN CA TO OFFSET THE RIGGING OF MAPS IN RED STATES. BUT IF THE OTHER STATES CALL OFF THEIR REDISTRICTING EFFORTS, WE WILL DO THE SAME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!”
State House Democratic lawmakers departed from Texas on Aug. 3, protesting the proposed redistricting plan and denying the chamber its required quorum.
The walkout has triggered retaliation. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton requested the state Supreme Court expel 13 Democrats from the House on Friday.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott filed an emergency petition last week seeking the removal of Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu from office.
Senator John Cornyn said on Thursday that FBI Director Kash Patel approved federal agents to assist Texas authorities in locating the absent Democratic lawmakers.