California Governor Gavin Newsom has expressed strong criticism of Texas Republicans following their recent congressional redistricting, which is projected to benefit the GOP with an additional five U.S. House seats. This development comes after a prolonged standoff in the Texas legislature, where Democratic lawmakers repeatedly failed to attend sessions necessary for a quorum, effectively obstructing the GOP’s plans.
The Texas House faced significant challenges as only 95 lawmakers attended a critical meeting, falling short of the 100 required for quorum. This prompted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Governor Greg Abbott to threaten arrest for those Democrats who did not return. After two weeks away from the Capitol, the Democrats eventually resumed their legislative duties, allowing the redistricting plan to progress. The plan passed by an 88-52 vote, boosting Republican representation from 25 to potentially 30 seats in a 38-member delegation.
Newsom did not hold back during an appearance on The Siren podcast, where he explicitly called the redistricting efforts “radical rigging of a midterm election.” He portrayed the Texas GOP’s actions as a threat to democracy, stating, “Destroying, vandalizing this democracy, the rule of law” is a path he refuses to tolerate. His response was to announce his own redistricting plan to counter Texas, emphasizing a fighting spirit: “We’re fighting fire with fire. And we’re gonna punch these sons of bitches in the mouth.”
On Thursday, following approvals from both the California Assembly and Senate, Newsom signed a new redistricting plan. This initiative aims to eliminate five GOP House seats, reinforcing his commitment to shaping the political landscape in response to Texas’s maneuvering. As the ongoing battle over congressional maps continues, both states are clearly engaged in a high-stakes struggle that could have significant implications for the upcoming elections.
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