Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

President Donald Trump has announced that he will file a lawsuit challenging California Governor Gavin Newsom’s plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts.

Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, California just moved to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would temporarily suspend the state’s independent redistricting commission and allow the Democratic-controlled legislature to redraw congressional districts through 2030. Supporters of the plan, including Governor Gavin Newsom, argue it’s a necessary countermeasure to Republican-led efforts in Texas, where lawmakers recently redrew the congressional map mid-decade to secure five additional GOP seats. California Democrats claim their move is a direct response to this strategic redistricting, aiming to level the partisan playing field ahead of key election cycles in 2026, 2028, and 2030. While Texas Republicans justified their redistricting as legal and consistent with their legislative authority, critics view it as a power grab that disrupts fair representation—prompting California to declare, as Newsom put it, “two can play at that game.”

What’s going on now: While speaking to reporters during a press event at the White House, President Donald Trump announced that he plans to file a lawsuit through the Department of Justice to challenge California’s proposal to redraw its congressional districts. Trump criticized the effort as an attempt by Democrats to manipulate electoral boundaries for political gain and warned that the administration would take aggressive legal action to stop it.

Trump also dismissed California’s rationale that it was acting because of Texas. Unlike Texas, California requires a constitutional amendment to make such a change (meaning voters must approve the measure in the November election before it can take effect). The proposal is already dividing voters, with polling showing mixed support and a significant portion of the electorate still undecided.

This all comes as Democratic leaders in Illinois and New York are reportedly exploring similar redistricting strategies in response to Republican efforts in states like Texas. Both states, which currently use legislative-controlled redistricting systems, are weighing whether to adopt more aggressive, partisan approaches to redraw congressional maps ahead of future election cycles.