---

 [ STATE WATCH ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=385)

#  'Fighting Fire With Fire': California Puts Retaliatory Redistricting on November Ballot

Written by Brett Wilkins.

 ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/83/067m-83eca0df.jpg)

August 21 2025

<a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_print"></a>[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)

 [Comments](#disqus_thread)

REDISTRICTING - Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday swiftly signed legislation passed by state lawmakers to let voters decide this November whether to approve a redrawn congressional map designed to counter Texas Republicans' gerrymandering at the behest of President [Donald Trump](https://www.commondreams.org/tag/donald-trump).

"California is countering \[Trump's\] attempt to rig the 2026 election and redistrict his way out of accountability in states like Texas," Newsom [said](https://x.com/CAgovernor/status/1958601892042613206) on social media. "We're fighting fire with fire—giving the power to the people to fight back and demand nationwide independent redistricting."

The move followed Wednesday's [approval](https://www.commondreams.org/news/texas-gerrymandering-advances) by the GOP-controlled Texas Legislature of a Trump-backed plan to redraw the state's congressional map to create five new Republican districts ahead of next year's midterm elections. The California map aims to win five more Democratic seats in 2026.

"Let me be crystal clear, we don't want this fight, and we didn't choose this fight, but with our democracy on the line, we cannot and will not run away from this fight," Democratic Assemblyman Marc Berman (D-23) [said](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/texas-california-legislatures-gear-major-redistricting-face-off/story?id=124845001) prior to Thursday's vote.

National Democrats welcomed California's move, with Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin saying: "This isn't just about California. The basic premise of Americans—instead of Donald Trump—choosing their elected officials is at stake."

While some progressives, including former Ohio state Sen. [Nina Turner](https://www.commondreams.org/tag/nina-turner), have [spoken out](https://bsky.app/profile/ninaturner.bsky.social/post/3lww76mae6c2v) against retaliatory redistricting, many others cheered California's fight.

"The response by Democrats in California to counter-balance is being triggered by a blatant GOP plot to steal the 2026 midterms," former US Labor Secretary Robert Reich [wrote](https://x.com/RBReich/status/1958549219595186249) on X. "This isn't a race to the bottom. It's a means of avoiding the bottom."

*(Brett Wilkins is a staff writer for Common Dreams where this article was first published.)*

 [ ![LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20level%20pay%205-7-25.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)")

 ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png)

## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays &amp; Thursdays

 First Name

 [ ![Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/HHR/AHF-rent-too-high.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/104 "Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2")

 ---

##  Featured CityWatch Stories

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/34/065h-34e1b43b.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33212:reminder-to-the-red-states-turnabout-is-fair-play&catid=395)

### [Reminder to the Red States, Turnabout is Fair Play](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33212:reminder-to-the-red-states-turnabout-is-fair-play&catid=395)

GELFAND’S WORLD - Indiana has been pounded by rains that resulted in widespread flooding. While the rain was still comi…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/d8/066m-d8f0fac6.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33229:democrats-finally-tell-iowa-and-new-hampshire-you-dont-go-first-anymore&catid=395)

### [Democrats Finally Tell Iowa and New Hampshire: You Don’t Go First Anymore](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33229:democrats-finally-tell-iowa-and-new-hampshire-you-dont-go-first-anymore&catid=395)

GELFAND’S WORLD - Earlier in the week, the Democratic National Committee did something good. Mind you it wasn’t great…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/d0/065o-d02f23ac.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33213:californias-empty-classrooms-are-a-warning-sacramento-cant-ignore&catid=378)

### [California’s Empty Classrooms Are a Warning Sacramento Can’t Ignore](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33213:californias-empty-classrooms-are-a-warning-sacramento-cant-ignore&catid=378)

A STUDENT'S VIEW - California is spending more on public education, yet classrooms are emptying, campuses are closing…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/da/066j-daf22e28.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33231:a-prisoner-a-peacemaker-and-israels-defining-choice&catid=375)

### [A Prisoner, A Peacemaker, and Israel’s Defining Choice](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33231:a-prisoner-a-peacemaker-and-israels-defining-choice&catid=375)

P.O.V - Marwan Barghouti remains one of the most consequential—and controversial—figures in the Israeli-Palestinian con…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/df/065q-dfb89383.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33224:john-mckinney-on-what-separates-the-city-attorney-candidates&catid=401)

### [John McKinney on What Separates the City Attorney Candidates](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33224:john-mckinney-on-what-separates-the-city-attorney-candidates&catid=401)

INTERVIEW - Voters will have a clear and defining contrast in the goals and objectives of the remaining general electio…

---

##  [ STATE WATCH ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=385)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/066k.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33230:california-hates-your-car&catid=385)### [California Hates Your Car](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33230:california-hates-your-car&catid=385)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/061d.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33145:facts-are-stubborn-things-ab-130-streamlining-while-infrastructure-is-crumbling&catid=385)### [Facts Are Stubborn Things. AB 130: Streamlining While Infrastructure Is Crumbling](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33145:facts-are-stubborn-things-ab-130-streamlining-while-infrastructure-is-crumbling&catid=385)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/060d.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33134:they-once-taught-about-a-hero-now-faculty-rethink-cesar-chavez-lessons-after-allegations&catid=385)### [They Once Taught About A Hero. Now Faculty Rethink César Chávez Lessons After Allegations](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33134:they-once-taught-about-a-hero-now-faculty-rethink-cesar-chavez-lessons-after-allegations&catid=385)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/060b.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33136:affordable-housing-wheres-sacramentos-accountability&catid=385)### [Affordable Housing: Where's Sacramento's Accountability?](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33136:affordable-housing-wheres-sacramentos-accountability&catid=385)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/059u.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33125:in-california-880-pedestrians-a-year-are-killed-walking-after-dark-making-it-the-seventh-deadliest-state-in-america-for-nighttime-pedestrian-fatalities&catid=385)### [In California, 880 Pedestrians a Year Are Killed Walking After Dark, Making It the Seventh Deadliest State in America for Nighttime Pedestrian Fatalities](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33125:in-california-880-pedestrians-a-year-are-killed-walking-after-dark-making-it-the-seventh-deadliest-state-in-america-for-nighttime-pedestrian-fatalities&catid=385)
<div data-id="1" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-emailform eb-1 eboxContentLocker"
	data-options='{"trigger":"onPageLoad","trigger_selector":"","delay":3000,"early_trigger":true,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":1,"reverse_scroll_close":true,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":10000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"slideInDown","animation_close":"fadeOutDown","animation_duration":400,"disable_page_scroll":true,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #1 - Global Email Signup Form","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog eb-formVer" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog1" aria-label="dialog1">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<form action="https://citywatchla.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=34d69f33624fd058ee9b56516&amp;id=4bfa422f51&amp;f_id=00d6c2e1f0" class="eb" method="post" id="mcform-1" name="mcform-1" target="_blank">
			<div class="eb-form-header"><p><img src="/images/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png" alt="be a city watcher" width="350" height="97" loading="lazy" data-path="local-images:/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png"></p>
<p>Sign up to receive our special e-news blasts on Monday and Thursday evenings!</p></div>
	
					<div class="eb-field-row">

			
			
			
			<input class="eb-input" type="email" name="EMAIL"  placeholder="Email address"  id="EMAIL" value="" required>

			
		</div>
										
	<div class="eb-footer">
    	<button class="eb-btn" type="submit" name="subscribe" style="background-color:rgba(93, 183, 93, 1);color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)">
    		Sign up    	</button>
    </div>
</form>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>
<div data-id="3" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-yesno eb-3 "
	data-options='{"trigger":"onScrollDepth","trigger_selector":"","delay":0,"early_trigger":false,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":2,"reverse_scroll_close":false,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":1000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"fadeInUp","animation_close":"fadeOut","animation_duration":300,"disable_page_scroll":false,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #3 - Yes \/ No Donation Popup Box","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog " role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog3" aria-label="dialog3">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<div class="ebox-yes-no">
	<div class="ebox-yn-text">
		
		
		<div class="ebox-yn-headline" style="font-size:22px;color:#888888">
			<p>If you only give once a month, would you consider giving to CityWatch?</p>
<p>Your support fuels our mission to promote and facilitate civic engagement and neighborhood empowerment, and to hold area government and its politicians accountable.</p>
<p>Would you like to help? Even if you can only give $5, it will make a difference.</p>		</div>
			</div>
	
	<div class="ebox-ys-buttons" style="font-size: 16px;">
		
<a
					data-ebox-prevent="0"
		data-ebox-cmd="close"
				target="_self"
		href="https://www.citywatchla.com/donate"
		rel="noopener"
	
	
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#2ec664;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Yes
	</a>
<a
	
	
			data-ebox-cmd="close"
		href="#"
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#ef2345;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Not Right Now
	</a>	</div>

	</div>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>