California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Thursday unveiled a California ballot initiative aimed at offsetting a controversial redistricting ploy by Republicans in Texas ahead of next year’s congressional elections.
The initiative, called the Election Rigging Response Act, asks California voters to approve early congressional redistricting if Texas goes forward with its own redistricting plan that would likely eliminate five Democratic congressional seats there. Newsom’s plan, if it is approved in a special election in November, would equally target five House Republicans in the Golden State.
“Today is liberation day in the state of California,” Newsom said at an event with other California Democratic officials in Los Angeles. “Donald Trump, you have poked the bear, and we will punch back.”
“We can’t unilaterally disarm and watch this democracy disappear, district by district, all across this country,” he added.
Dozens of federal immigration agents raided the neighborhood where Newsom’s press conference was held on Thursday.
