California lawmakers have fast-tracked a redistricting plan giving Democrats a potential five-seat gain in Congress, with Governor Gavin Newsom signing the measure on Thursday to counter Republican efforts in Texas.
The Democratic-led legislature approved three bills in both chambers within hours, meeting a Friday deadline to place the measure on the 4 November ballot. If backed by voters, the new boundaries would offset a Trump-backed Texas plan designed to flip five Democratic seats to Republican control.
Governor Newsom, seen as a possible 2028 presidential contender, called the move “fighting fire with fire” in a post on X. He later signed the bills, securing what observers described as one of his biggest political victories since taking office.
Democrats argue the plan is a temporary “emergency” measure in response to Republican redistricting efforts in Texas, which they denounce as unfairly partisan. They said more than 70% of the proposed California districts mirror boundaries drawn by the state’s independent redistricting commission.
Republicans, however, criticised the process. State Senator Tony Strickland said the maps were “drawn behind closed doors,” while former President Donald Trump hailed the Texas effort as a “big win” on his Truth Social platform.
The Texas plan passed the state House of Representatives on Wednesday and is expected to clear the Senate before heading to Governor Greg Abbott, who has pledged to sign it. Civil rights groups and Democrats say the new Texas maps dilute the voting power of Hispanic and Black residents, potentially violating federal law.
The California initiative marks a break with the state’s 2008 voter-approved tradition of using a bipartisan commission for redistricting. Analysts say both states’ mid-decade moves highlight an escalating national battle over political maps ahead of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections.
Former President Barack Obama endorsed the California strategy as a necessary response to Republican overreach, while warning of risks to democratic norms. Polling by Reuters/Ipsos suggests most Americans oppose gerrymandering, viewing it as harmful to democracy.
Other battlegrounds are emerging, with legislatures in Ohio, Florida, Indiana and Missouri, as well as Democratic-led states including Maryland and Illinois, considering similar steps.
Qarabağ face Napoli in their next UEFA Champions League group stage match at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Italy....
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday (25 November) that France, together with other European Union member states, will finalise a mechanis...
French police arrested four further suspects on Tuesday as part of the investigation into the audacious Louvre jewel heist last month, Paris prosecuto...
A major fire continues to rage at a warehouse in Southall, west London, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky hours after it first broke ou...
Georgia has formally invited Pope Leo XIV to visit Tbilisi in 2026, following Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s meeting with the Pontiff at the Vat...
Qarabağ face Napoli in their next UEFA Champions League group stage match at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Italy.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday (25 November) that France, together with other European Union member states, will finalise a mechanism in the coming days to provide financial support to Ukraine, using frozen Russian assets as a key component.
French police arrested four further suspects on Tuesday as part of the investigation into the audacious Louvre jewel heist last month, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said in a statement.
A major fire continues to rage at a warehouse in Southall, west London, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky hours after it first broke out.
The Hayli Gubbi volcano in north-eastern Ethiopia erupted on Sunday for the first time in over 12,000 years, before halting on Monday, according to the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center.
Cameras from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) on Saturday (22 November) captured Hawaii's Kilauea volcano spewing flowing lava from its crater in its latest eruption.
Italy captured a remarkable third consecutive Davis Cup title on Sunday, with Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli securing singles victories in a 2-0 triumph over Spain in Bologna.
U.S. President Donald Trump has told his advisers that he plans to speak directly with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro according to Axios, as Washington designated him as the head of a terrorist organisation on Monday. A claim Maduro denies.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has once again expressed strong support for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, condemning foreign interference and criticising U.S. actions in the region.
Galatasaray suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise in the fifth round of the UEFA Champions League.
Beijing on Tuesday denied claims that it “detained or harassed” a resident from the disputed India-China border region at Shanghai airport, while reaffirming its claim over Arunachal Pradesh, which China refers to as Zangnan.
The Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region erupted on Sunday morning (23 November), covering nearby villages in ash.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday that Ukraine needs “more support now” and confirmed that the UK will send additional air defence missiles in the coming weeks.
On Monday (24 November), the U.S. formally designated Venezuela’s “Cartel de los Soles” as a foreign terrorist organisation and imposed additional terrorism-related sanctions on its members, including President Nicolás Maduro and other senior officials.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment