Gov. Gavin Newsom sent a letter to President Donald Trump on Monday promising to stand down from his plan to redraw California’s congressional district maps if Republican states such as Texas did likewise, KQED reported.

Trump set the stage for the redistricting battle royale ahead of the 2026 midterms by pressuring Texas lawmakers to redraw the House maps now instead of waiting until after the 2030 census. The president’s goal: picking up enough Republican seats to thwart the Democrats and retain control of the House of Representatives.

“You are playing with fire, risking the destabilization of our democracy, while knowing that California can neutralize any gains you hope to make,” Newsom wrote in the letter. “Attempting to rig congressional maps to hold onto power before a single vote is cast in the 2026 election is an affront to American democracy.”

Newsom also said in the letter that he supports California’s independent redistricting commission but Trump’s gambit left him with no choice but to fight fire with fire.

“If you will not stand down, I will be forced to lead an effort to redraw the maps in California to offset the rigging of maps in red states,” Newsom wrote. “But if the other states call off their redistricting efforts, we will happily do the same. And American democracy will be better for it.”

The Trump administration hasn’t responded publicly to Newsom’s message.

Last Friday, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, who heads California’s Democratic congressional caucus, said he had the unanimous support of the state’s Democratic lawmakers for Newsom’s redistricting plan.

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