Lawmaker Files Lawsuit Against California Governor
In a political clash that underscores the growing intensity of America’s redistricting wars, Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson has filed a federal lawsuit against California Gov. Gavin Newsom, alleging that the Golden State’s recently signed redistricting law is not only unconstitutional but a deliberate and retaliatory attack on Texas and its voters.
At the heart of the complaint lies a claim that Newsom and his legislative allies are trying to upend the balance of congressional power in response to Texas’ Trump-backed redistricting plan.
Jackson, a Republican and former Navy rear admiral who once served as White House physician to President Donald Trump, filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
His target: California’s “Election Rigging Response Act,” signed into law in August and poised to appear before California voters in a November ballot initiative. If approved, the measure would suspend the state’s nonpartisan redistricting commission and replace it with a Democratic-drawn congressional map — one that could net Democrats several House seats in the 2026 election.
To Jackson, this is more than political gamesmanship. In his filing, he accuses Newsom of waging an unconstitutional assault that violates both California’s own state constitution and several clauses in the U.S. Constitution.
“This scheme alters Congress’ power dynamics in a way that harms the citizens of Texas,” the lawsuit states, arguing that California’s plan is designed not just to boost Democrats, but to retaliate against Texas’ lawful redistricting choices.
The case lays bare a broader concern among Republicans that redistricting is no longer merely a state issue, but a weapon in a national war for congressional control. Jackson frames California’s move as a direct threat to electoral integrity, calling Newsom “a lawless tyrant” who is “weaponizing his office” to silence voters and undermine Trump-aligned states.
California officials were quick to fire back. Brandon Richards, a spokesperson for Gov. Newsom, ridiculed the lawsuit as a “pathetic” political stunt, labeling Jackson a “Trump lapdog” who should focus on Texas’ problems rather than meddling in California’s governance. He also took a jab at the Lone Star State’s homicide rate — comparing it unfavorably to California’s — to drive home his point.
Meanwhile, the stakes continue to rise. The proposed California law would not just rewrite district lines but dismantle the independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, a voter-approved body designed to ensure fairness. The law’s critics argue that its removal would open the door to blatant partisan gerrymandering, even though the legislation itself faces a popular vote in November.