California Gov. Gavin Newsom stated Democrats’ sweeping election victory on Tuesday, including the approval of a redistricting ballot measure in his state, “represents a new moment” for the Democratic Party because it debates its path ahead.
“Clarity, conviction, purpose, energy. On our toes, not on our heels. A resurgent Democratic Party, and it’s a party that understands what’s at stake for our democracy,” Newsom stated throughout a wide-ranging interview with NCS’s Jake Tapper in Houston on Saturday.
Along with the approval of California’s Proposition 50, which creates 5 US House seats extra favorable for Democrats, the party received in high-profile races throughout the nation on Tuesday. Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City, whereas Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill received gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, respectively.
Newsom traveled to Houston on Saturday for a rally, throughout which he touted the win and likewise credited Texas Democrats for inspiring the push for Proposition 50.
“I think just the energy that the delegation from Texas brought to the Democratic Party, to democracy as a whole, when they stood up and pushed back against (Texas Gov.) Greg Abbott and Donald Trump’s overreach … in many ways that was the beginning of this comeback,” Newsom stated to Tapper following the rally.
Earlier this yr, Texas Republicans moved to redraw the state’s congressional maps to shift 5 US House seats to the suitable at President Donald Trump’s behest. The transfer sparked outrage amongst state legislative Democrats, who left Texas to keep away from a vote. They ultimately returned, and the maps have been handed and signed into law.
In response, Democrats in California started the efforts to redraw the state’s congressional maps. Newsom, who’s extensively anticipated to be a 2028 presidential candidate, made himself the face of California’s redistricting efforts and nationalized the problem.
Newsom acknowledged criticism that California made the redistricting course of partisan, including from Republican former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and advised Tapper that he helps “independent redistricting.”
“But you can’t do it state by state with one arm tied behind your back,” he stated. “You can’t unilaterally disarm as other people are not playing by the rules.”
After the GOP win in Texas, Republicans have additionally redrawn seats of their favor in Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio, and they’re trying to do the identical in different states, including Indiana and Kansas.
Meanwhile, following California’s lead, Democrats are searching for adjustments to maps in no less than three different states: New York, Virginia and Illinois.
“They’re not screwing around. They’re consolidating power,” Newsom stated of Republicans’ efforts.
Newsom additionally weighed in on attending the COP30 local weather summit this week in Brazil because the Trump administration has determined to not ship a high-level delegation.
When requested what his function shall be on the summit and whether or not he’s standing in for the president, Newsom stated he’ll be “standing in for my kids and grandkids, for common sense, for, you know, our economic future.”
During the interview, Newsom additionally reiterated his warnings of the menace he says Trump poses to democracy.
For Trump, Newsom claimed, “it’s not about the rule of law. It’s about the rule of Don.”
“This is not normal times,” he later added. “The rules have changed and we need to change.”
NCS’s Eric Bradner, Arit John and David Wright contributed to this report.