52 h. ago Most Americans oppose gerrymandering in new poll – unless their opponents do it first

Democratic leaders in California have launched a redistricting effort to counter Texas’s new congressional map

Politics

8 d. ago Doomsday scenarios after Texas and California go nuclear on redistricting: See how it all plays out

A mid-decade redrawing of congressional maps would have implications far beyond the 2026 midterm elections, write John Bowden and Eric Garcia. The Independent illustrates, with interactive maps by Alicja Hagopian, what’s at stake for control of the US House of Representatives — and potentially the last two years of the Trump presidency.

Events

8 d. ago ‘Fire with fire’: The doomsday political scenarios after Texas and California launch their warheads over redistricting

A mid-decade redrawing of congressional maps would have implications far beyond the 2026 midterm elections, write John Bowden and Eric Garcia. The Independent’s interactive maps illustrate the Cold War-like scenarios at play between Democratic and Republican leaders for control of the US House of Representatives — and potentially the last two years of the Trump presidency.

Events

1 week ago Gavin Newsom signs bill to redraw California districts in response to Texas effort to add five GOP seats

Signing comes day after Texas House sent GOP plan to add five seats on fast track to passage

Politics

1 week ago California supreme court rejects Republican effort to stop redistricting as legislature seeks vote on plan – live

California Democrats’ aim is to offset the Republican-drawn gerrymandered Texas map that nets five new US House seats for the GOP in 2026Texas Republicans pass gerrymandered congressional mapThe government lost its bid to unseal grand jury transcripts in the sex-trafficking case against Jeffrey Epstein.Richard Berman, a federal judge in New York, said the transcripts pale in comparison to the documents the government already has on Epstein and that disclosing them could harm victims.It’s kind of bizarre that we have a bunch of old, primarily white people who are out there protesting the policies that keep people safe when they’ve never felt danger in their entire lives. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Obama makes rare political intervention to weigh in on Texas redistricting and back Newsom

The former president made the public comments in support of the California governor’s plan to counter move Texas Republicans

Politics

2 w. ago Speaker Johnson vows to stop California’s redistricting push — but ignores Texas doing the same

Republicans vow to take on Gavin Newsom’s plans in growing battle over Texas gerrymandering

Politics

2 w. ago Newsom says California will push to redraw maps in riposte to Texas plan

Masked border agents circle venue at which governor outlines bid to counter Republican-led redrawing effortGavin Newsom, California’s governor, said on Thursday state Democratic lawmakers would move forward with a redistricting plan to counter the Republican-led map-drawing effort in Texas aimed at securing a House majority after the midterm elections.As he spoke at the Japanese American National museum’s National Center for the Preservation of Democracy – a venue deliberately chosen for its symbolism – federal agents, armed and masked, fanned out across the complex, led by Gregory Bovino, head of the border patrol’s El Centro sector. Local news footage showed a man being led away in handcuffs. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Newsom vows to ‘meet fire with fire’ as he brings California into Texas redistricting war with Trump and Republicans

Democratic governor’s effort comes as Republicans in Texas, Florida, Indiana and Ohio all seek to add GOP seats to their congressional maps

Politics

2 w. ago Texas Democrats say they are prepared to return to state after two

Chair of state’s house Democratic caucus said they will return once California submits new congressional map to offset losses in TexasUS politics live – latest updatesTexas Democrats said on Thursday they are prepared to return to the state under certain conditions, ending a nearly two-week-long effort to block Republicans from passing a new congressional map that would add five GOP seats.The lawmakers said they would return as long as the legislature ends its first special session on Friday, which Republicans have said they plan to do. Texas’s governor, Greg Abbott, has said he will immediately call another special session. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago California moving forward with partisan redistricting effort to counter Texas' move

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is calling for a special election on November 4 to introduce new U.S. House maps

Events

2 w. ago Gavin Newsom praised for new online posting style: All Caps and mimicking Trump

California governor is taking on president over Republican gerrymandering efforts in Texas

Politics

3 w. ago These are the best public bathrooms in America — and you can vote on your favorite

Nine bathrooms across New York City, Minnesota, Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Florida, New Hampshire, Texas, and California are among the finalists in Cintas’ best restroom competition

Politics

3 w. ago Some Democrats want to use gerrymandering. That’s a bad idea | Carlo Invernizzi

When a house is on fire, more fire won’t helpWhen Texas Republicans unveiled yet another contorted congressional map last week – one that would all but erase Austin’s Latino-led seat and increase the Republican party’s federal House tally by up to five seats in total – the outcry from Democrats was immediate and justified. But beyond the Democratic state legislators’ brave effort to stymie the proposal by boycotting the vote, a different refrain has also been heard by leading Democrats in other states: if they do it, why can’t we?Governor Gavin Newsom of California has vowed to “fight fire with fire”, advancing a proposal that would redraw California’s own congressional map to offset Republican gains in Texas. New York’s Kathy Hochul has also embraced the prospect of aggressive gerrymandering in Democratic-controlled states, sidestepping the independent commissions that Democrats themselves had once championed and successfully implemented in both California and New York. Continue re...

Politics

4 w. ago Lawmakers are fighting over election maps — here’s how it works and why it’s bigger than Texas

Trump kicked off a nationwide race to redraw congressional districts that could determine the balance of power in Congress

Politics

4 w. ago Newsom threatens ‘fire with fire’ if Republicans push ahead with redistricting plans in Texas

California Gov. warns Texas Republicans over gerrymandering: ‘Whatever they are doing will be neutered here... and they will pay that price’

Events

4 w. ago California could slash 5 GOP US House seats to counter Texas' move to pad Republican margin

California Democrats are weighing new political maps that could slash five Republican-held House seats in the liberal-leaning state while bolstering Democratic incumbents in other battleground districts

Politics