Source: Politics<\/p>\n
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is warning President Donald Trump and Republican governors that if they go forward with redistricting proposals, he will also implement mid-decade redistricting efforts in his state.<\/p>\n
In a letter to the president Monday, Newsom said California \u201ccannot stand idly by\u201d as Texas \u2014 and other GOP-led states \u2014 attempt to follow Trump\u2019s directive to create Republican-favored congressional maps.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you will not stand down, I will be forced to lead an effort to redraw the maps in California to offset the rigging of maps in red states,\u201d Newsom said. \u201cBut if the other states call off their redistricting efforts, we will happily do the same. And American democracy will be better for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n
Newsom\u2019s letter comes as the battle over the Texas congressional map has begun to spread to other states, including Indiana.<\/p>\n
With Democrats needing to flip just three seats to reclaim a House majority, Trump pressed the Texas Legislature to draw a new map that would give Republicans an additional five congressional seats<\/a>. Democrats around the nation condemned the effort even as Texas officials began to move forward with a plan. Texas Democrats have left the state to avoid voting on the new map, with some settling indefinitely in California<\/a>.<\/p>\n