California Governor Gavin Newsom on 22 August signed legislation enacting a new congressional map that is expected to eliminate five Republican-held U.S. House districts, intensifying a coast-to-coast battle over partisan redistricting. The move came one day after the Texas House approved a map, 88–52, designed to give Republicans up to 30 of the state’s 38 seats—five more than they currently hold. In a podcast recorded earlier in the week, Newsom said California would "fight fire with fire," declaring that he would "punch" Texas Republicans "in the mouth," language that drew criticism from GOP officials and some Democrats for promoting political violence. Republican leaders accused Newsom of gerrymandering to bolster Democratic prospects in the 2026 mid-terms, while legal analysts said court challenges are likely in both states. If the California lines survive, the state’s 17-member Republican delegation could shrink to about a dozen seats, narrowing the party’s margin in the closely divided U.S. House. The confrontation has also elevated Newsom’s national profile. Prediction market Polymarket this week raised the governor’s implied probability of winning the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination to 34%, up from 19% on 16 August, as party activists weigh the electoral implications of redistricting and aggressive campaign tactics.