California Governor Gavin Newsom and Democratic lawmakers are advancing a controversial redistricting plan aimed at redrawing the state's congressional maps to counter Republican gains from a similar redistricting effort in Texas. The proposal seeks to create five new Democratic U.S. House seats in California, effectively responding to a Republican-led expansion in Texas that would net five additional GOP seats. Newsom's plan involves overriding the state's independent redistricting commission and is backed by local Democratic leaders, with an estimated cost of $250 million to redraw all 52 districts. The initiative faces a tight legislative deadline to be placed on the ballot for a special election on November 4, 2025. California Republicans have filed a lawsuit challenging the plan, citing procedural violations such as insufficient review time and accusing the Democrats of a partisan power grab conducted without transparency or public input. They have requested the California Supreme Court to block or delay the redistricting effort. However, the state Supreme Court rejected the Republican petition, allowing the legislature to proceed with the redistricting legislation. Republicans have vowed to continue their legal and political fight against the plan. The redistricting battle in California is part of a broader national conflict over congressional maps, with implications for control of the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.