California Governor Gavin Newsom is making a strong effort to fight back against Donald Trump’s push for redistricting in Texas by attempting his own power move ahead of the midterm elections, and he’s showing a lot of enthusiasm for the battle.
At the moment, Democrats in California and across the country are calling for their leaders to be more aggressive, and Newsom is stepping into a direct showdown with Trump that carries very high stakes. Newsom, who has attacked Trump’s administration and the president himself many times in the past, claims he can win in securing five extra Democratic seats in the US House to balance out the five that Texas Republicans are trying to capture through mid-decade redistricting.
If he in fact does that, he could easily position himself as the symbol of a Democratic revival in the midterm elections, even as his influence in Sacramento declines because of term limits, the Intelligencer reports.
Although it wouldn’t literally bring Trump’s presidency to an end, as Newsom claimed in a recent social media post, having Democrats in control of the House would definitely create more obstacles for him in Washington.
However, despite Newsom’s confidence, his words do carry risks for both himself and his party.
According to many, Newsom’s attempt to counter Texas Republicans’ redistricting backfired since his 24-hour ultimatum only gave them time to regroup, while California’s independent commission left him powerless to act as quickly as Texas lawmakers. So, instead of deterring Republicans, it fueled division and raised doubts about Democratic credibility.
The risks now stretch beyond Texas. If California retaliates, other GOP-controlled states could join the fight, a contest Republicans are better positioned to win. Newsom’s plan could fall apart if voters reject the ballot measure. Many people trust the independent system already in place, and even Schwarzenegger might rally against changing it.
If Newsom succeeds, Democrats could pick up seats and gain momentum heading into the midterms. But if he fails, it might give California Republicans a boost and hurt his chances on the national stage.
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