Map Wars: Newsom Threatens to Weaponize California Against GOP States

Paul Riverbank, 8/12/2025States engage in aggressive redistricting warfare as California threatens to abandon independent commission system.

The Art of Political Map-Drawing Turns Ugly

America's long-simmering redistricting wars have erupted into open political warfare. I've covered congressional redistricting battles for over two decades, but the current situation strikes me as particularly volatile.

Last week's bombshell from Texas Republicans – their brazen push to secure up to five new congressional seats through aggressive redistricting – has unleashed what can only be described as a political chain reaction. The most dramatic response came from California's Gavin Newsom, who essentially threw down the gauntlet to Donald Trump and Republican states: back off, or watch California abandon its independent redistricting commission to play hardball.

Having witnessed the evolution of redistricting tactics since the 1990s, I'm struck by how the numbers tell a story of escalating partisan engineering. Take Texas – Trump's 56% of the vote translated into Republicans holding two-thirds of congressional seats. But before my conservative readers cry foul at Democratic complaints, let's look at the other side of the ledger.

Some of the most striking examples of partisan redistricting actually come from blue states. I recently visited Illinois, where the congressional map looks like something Jackson Pollock might have painted after a rough night. Governor Pritzker's quip about kindergarteners drawing the districts would be funnier if it didn't reflect such a serious democratic issue – Republicans won 44% of the vote but hold just three of seventeen seats.

The situation in several Northeast and Western states borders on the absurd. Connecticut, New Mexico, and Massachusetts – states where Trump won between 36% and 46% of the vote – have managed to eliminate Republican representation entirely. California, despite Trump capturing 38% of votes, allocates just 17% of congressional seats to Republicans.

What's particularly troubling to this observer is how openly some leaders now embrace naked partisan gerrymandering. When Nancy Pelosi, the former House Speaker, endorses manipulating California's commission process to "ensure" Democratic seats, we've entered new territory. The pretense of fairness is being abandoned in favor of raw political warfare.

Not everyone's on board with this race to the bottom. California Assemblyman Alex Lee's warning about betraying democratic principles deserves attention. I've seen how short-term partisan gains often lead to long-term institutional damage.

As we hurtle toward the 2026 midterms, I'm reminded of a conversation I had with a veteran state legislator last month. "We're not drawing districts anymore," he told me, requesting anonymity. "We're drawing battle lines." Looking at the current landscape, it's hard to disagree.

The coming months will test whether American democracy can find its way back from this brink. But after covering redistricting fights for nearly a quarter century, I've never seen the stakes quite this high – or the principles of fair representation quite so openly discarded.

The Art of Political Map-Drawing Turns UglyAmerica's long-simmering redistricting wars have erupted into open political warfare. I've covered congressional redistricting battles for over two decades, but the current situation strikes me as particularly volatile.Last week's bombshell from Texas Republicans – their brazen push to secure up to five new congressional seats through aggressive redistricting – has unleashed what can only be described as a political chain reaction. The most dramatic response came from California's Gavin Newsom, who essentially threw down the gauntlet to Donald Trump and Republican states: back off, or watch California abandon its independent redistricting commission to play hardball.Having witnessed the evolution of redistricting tactics since the 1990s, I'm struck by how the numbers tell a story of escalating partisan engineering. Take Texas – Trump's 56% of the vote translated into Republicans holding two-thirds of congressional seats. But before my conservative readers cry foul at Democratic complaints, let's look at the other side of the ledger.Some of the most striking examples of partisan redistricting actually come from blue states. I recently visited Illinois, where the congressional map looks like something Jackson Pollock might have painted after a rough night. Governor Pritzker's quip about kindergarteners drawing the districts would be funnier if it didn't reflect such a serious democratic issue – Republicans won 44% of the vote but hold just three of seventeen seats.The situation in several Northeast and Western states borders on the absurd. Connecticut, New Mexico, and Massachusetts – states where Trump won between 36% and 46% of the vote – have managed to eliminate Republican representation entirely. California, despite Trump capturing 38% of votes, allocates just 17% of congressional seats to Republicans.What's particularly troubling to this observer is how openly some leaders now embrace naked partisan gerrymandering. When Nancy Pelosi, the former House Speaker, endorses manipulating California's commission process to "ensure" Democratic seats, we've entered new territory. The pretense of fairness is being abandoned in favor of raw political warfare.Not everyone's on board with this race to the bottom. California Assemblyman Alex Lee's warning about betraying democratic principles deserves attention. I've seen how short-term partisan gains often lead to long-term institutional damage.As we hurtle toward the 2026 midterms, I'm reminded of a conversation I had with a veteran state legislator last month. "We're not drawing districts anymore," he told me, requesting anonymity. "We're drawing battle lines." Looking at the current landscape, it's hard to disagree.The coming months will test whether American democracy can find its way back from this brink. But after covering redistricting fights for nearly a quarter century, I've never seen the stakes quite this high – or the principles of fair representation quite so openly discarded.