Newsom Threatens ‘Beautiful Maps’; Macedo Says Voters Will Pay the Price

California Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo is blasting Governor Gavin Newsom after he met with Texas state leaders to discuss possible mid-decade redistricting in California — a move Newsom says would counter Republican-led efforts in Texas, but Macedo warns would trample voter-approved safeguards.

The Sacramento meeting brought together Newsom, members of California’s congressional delegation, and visiting Texas Democrats to denounce what they described as an “unprecedented power grab” in Austin. Texas Republicans, under pressure from former President Donald Trump, are considering redrawing congressional maps before 2030 to strengthen GOP control. Newsom argued California should be “prepared to fight fire with fire” if Texas proceeds, signaling the state could undertake its own redistricting before the next census.

Macedo, the Vice Chair of the Assembly Committee on Elections, issued a forceful statement August 8, calling the governor’s suggestion a betrayal of California’s voter-approved independent redistricting process. “Governor Newsom’s redistricting scheme sets a dangerous precedent that will collapse the foundational principles of democracy into a zero-sum game of power politics,” she said. “His disregard for the voters’ will is an alarming abuse of power that will cost the state at least $200 million when many Californians are without clean, reliable water or access to adequate health care. In a democracy, the power is with the people, not politicians. Otherwise, the public rightfully loses faith in our institutions, elected officials and system of governance.”

Her criticism directly challenges the governor’s public messaging, which has become increasingly combative. On August 11, Newsom’s official Twitter account warned, “@realDonaldTrump, if you will not stand down, California will be forced to lead an effort to redraw our maps to offset the rigging of maps in red states. If the other states call off their redistricting efforts, we will do the same. And American democracy will be better for it.”

Hours later, the Governor’s Press Office account posted a more pointed statement:
“DONALD ‘TACO’ TRUMP, AS MANY CALL HIM, ‘MISSED’ THE DEADLINE!!! CALIFORNIA WILL NOW DRAW NEW, MORE ‘BEAUTIFUL MAPS,’ THEY WILL BE HISTORIC AS THEY WILL END THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY (DEMS TAKE BACK THE HOUSE!). BIG PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK WITH POWERFUL DEMS AND GAVIN NEWSOM — YOUR FAVORITE GOVERNOR — THAT WILL BE DEVASTATING FOR ‘MAGA.’ THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER! — GN”

The meeting included Texas Representatives Rafael Anchía, Nicole Collier, Jessica Gonzalez, Ramon Romero, Ana-Maria Rodriguez Ramos, Chris Turner, and Barbara Gervin Hawkins. California Representatives Zoe Lofgren and Ted Lieu joined Newsom in pledging that if Texas Republicans move forward with a mid-decade redraw, California will be ready to respond legislatively, in court, and at the ballot box.

Leaders from other Democratic-led states — including Arizona, Michigan, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, and Maryland — have also expressed willingness to consider similar redistricting strategies in response to GOP actions in Texas.

Macedo, however, insists that adopting such tactics would undermine California’s commitment to independent redistricting, approved by voters to prevent partisan manipulation. Representing Tulare, Kings, and Fresno Counties, she maintains that retaliatory map-drawing — regardless of party — would damage voter trust and divert hundreds of millions of dollars from urgent state needs.

The sharp split between Newsom’s allies and Macedo underscores a larger national debate: should states hold their ground on established redistricting timelines, or match their opponents’ moves in the name of political parity? For Macedo, the answer is clear — protecting the process is more important than political payback. For Newsom, the fight may just be beginning.