Politics

House Democratic leadership, rank-and-file members and representatives for at least one blue state governor have been meeting to decide how to retaliate if Texas Republicans follow through on the White House’s push to reshape the state’s congressional map, according to four Democratic members of Congress familiar with the discussions.

In these talks, people in California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s orbit have signaled their boss’s willingness to counter any redistricting in Texas with a similar move to redraw the maps in his own state, in an attempt to offset potential GOP gains, according to the lawmakers who were granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

“This is news to us — our office hasn’t had any conversations about this,” said Izzy Gardon, a spokespeson for Newsom. “We’re always open to bold, creative ideas that hold the GOP accountable, even if the rumor didn’t start with us.”

The Democratic meetings are a response to recent calls from President Donald Trump’s political orbit for Republicans in Austin to draw new district lines that would shift GOP voters from safely red districts into neighboring blue ones, in a bid to flip the seats and protect the GOP’s slim House majority in 2026.