Redistricting Frontlines: Newsom vs. Texas - The Truth About the Map Game

The battle over redistricting is already underway ahead of the 2026 midterms. In Texas, Republicans just passed a new congressional map through the legislature. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom is promising Democrats that he’ll strike back by redrawing districts in his own state. The problem is simple: he can’t.

California’s lines aren’t drawn by politicians. They’re handled by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, an independent body created by voters to take the process out of the hands of lawmakers. That means no matter how loudly Newsom talks, he doesn’t have the authority to redraw anything.

Texas works differently. There, redistricting is still controlled by the legislature and governor, which means Republicans get to set the map. Democrats call it gerrymandering; Republicans argue it reflects Texas’s population shifts and growth. Either way, it’s the system Texas uses.

The bigger issue is the double standard. Democrats attack Republicans for gerrymandering, but they’ve never had a problem benefiting from favorable maps when the advantage is theirs. In fact, California Democrats originally fought against the creation of the citizens’ commission because it stripped them of that power. Newsom’s promises today show they still wish they had it.

Both parties understand how important congressional maps are. The difference is that Democrats pretend they’re above the game, while playing it whenever they get the chance.