California Dems launch own redistricting campaign

California Governor Gavin Newsom led a campaign-style rally on Thursday for a redistricting plan to foil what he called President Donald Trump's bid to rig the next congressional race and cement his Republican House majority by redrawing the political map of Texas.

- STORY: STEVE GORMAN

Newsom said his proposal, aimed for a special ballot on Nov 4, would create five new Democratic US congressional seats in California, offsetting any seats Republicans can gain at Mr Trump's behest by redrawing district lines in Texas less than four years after they were last revamped.

“Donald Trump, you have poked the bear and we will punch back,’ Mr Newsom said, alluding to the grizzly that adorns California's state flag. “We're going to fight fire with fire.”

The competing plans in California and Texas come ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections, when Democrats are hoping to win back control of the US House of Representatives.

While Democratic elected officials and labour union executives gathered inside an auditorium of the Democracy Center in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, at least two dozen armed federal border agents wearing riot helmets and balaclava masks milled about a street corner outside the building.

The governor called attention to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in his remarks, suggesting their presence was an attempt by Mr Trump at intimidation.