Deep in the badlands of defeat, Democrats have soul-searched about what went wrong last november, tinkered wiht a thousand-plus thinkpieces and desperately cast for a strategy to reboot their stalled-out party.
Amid the noise, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has recently championed an unlikely game plan: Forget the high road, fight fire with fire and embrace the very tactics that virtue-minded Democrats have long decried.
Could the dark art of political gerrymandering be the thing that saves democracy from Trump’s increasingly authoritarian impulses? That’s essentially the pitch Newsom is making to California voters with his audacious new special election campaign.
As Texas democrats dig in to block a Republican-led redistricting push and Trump muscles to consolidate power wherever he can,Newsom wants to redraw California’s own congressional districts to favor Democrats.
His goal: counter Trump’s drive for more GOP house seats with a power play of his own.
It’s a boundary-pushing gamble that will undoubtedly supercharge Newsom’s political star in the short-term. The long-game glory could be even grander, but only if he pulls it off. A ballot-box flop would be brutal for both Newsom and his party.
The charismatic California governor is termed out of office in 2026 and has made no secret of his 2028 presidential ambitions.
But the distinct scent of his home state will be hard to wholly slough off in parts of the country where California is synonymous with loony lefties, business-killing regulation and an out-of-control homelessness crisis. To say nothing of newsom’s ill-fated dinner at an elite Napa restaurant in violation of COVID-19 protocols – a misstep that energized a failed recall attempt and still haunts the governor’s national reputation.
The redistricting gambit is the kind of big play that could redefine how voters across the country see Newsom.
The strategy could be a boon for Newsom’s 2028 ambitions during a moment when Democrats are hungry for leaders, said Democratic strategist Steven Maviglio. But it’s also a massive roll of the dice for both Newsom and the state he leads.
“It’s great politics for him if this passes,” maviglio said. “If it fails, he’s dead in the water.”
The path forward – which could determine control of Congress in 2026 – is hardly a straight shot.
The “Election Rigging Response Act,” as Newsom has named his ballot measure, would temporarily scrap the congressional districts enacted by the state’s voter-approved autonomous redistricting commission.
Under the proposal, Democrats could pick up five seats currently held by Republicans while bolstering vulnerable Democratic incumbent Reps. Adam Grey, Josh Harder, George Whitesides, Derek Tran and Dave Min, which would save the party millions of dollars in costly reelection fights.But first the Democratic-led state Legislature must vote to place the measure on the Nov. 4 ballot and then it must be approved by voters.
If passed, the initiative would have a “trigger,” meaning the redrawn map would not take effect unless Texas or another GOP-led state moved forward with it’s own gerrymandering effort.”I think what Governor Newsom and other Democrats are doing here is exactly the right thing we need to do,” Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin said Thursday.
“We’re not bringing a pencil to a knife fight. We’re going to bring a bazooka to a knife fight, right? This is not your grandfather’s Democratic Party,” Martin said, adding that thay shouldn’t be the only ones playing by a set of rules that no longer exist.For Democrats like Rep. Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), who appeared alongside Newsom to kick off the effort, there is “some heartbreak” to temporarily shelving their commitment to independent redistricting.But
Gavin Newsom’s Shift in Strategy: From west Coast Liberal to Trump Counterpuncher
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California Governor Gavin Newsom has undergone a noticeable strategic shift, increasingly adopting a combative and provocative approach, especially in response to the presidency of Donald Trump. Initially hesitant to fully embrace the role of anti-Trump resistance leader, newsom has become more vocal and direct in his criticism, employing tactics that mirror those of his political opponent – including a willingness to engage in social media sparring. This change reflects a broader calculation within the Democratic party about how to effectively challenge a political landscape reshaped by Trump’s unconventional style.
Initial Hesitation and the Turning Point
Following Trump’s election in November 2016, Newsom initially appeared to be attempting to broaden his national appeal, subtly distancing himself from the “West Coast liberal” label. However, this reluctance to directly confront Trump ended in June 2018 when the President deployed California National Guard troops to Los Angeles during immigration sweeps and subsequent protests. https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2018-06-21/newsom-trump-national-guard-immigration
newsom characterized Trump’s actions as exhibiting “unchecked vindictiveness and abject lack of morals and honor,” marking a clear turning point in his approach.
Embracing the Counterpunch
As then, Newsom has actively defended the provocative social media posts created by his staff, which directly mock Trump’s own frequently enough all-caps and inflammatory tweets. He has even questioned why criticism is directed at his “parody” while the President’s own social media behavior goes largely unchallenged.
In a statement last week,Newsom asserted,”If you’ve got issues with what I’m putting out,you sure as hell should have concerns about what he’s putting out as president.” He expressed satisfaction with the attention his posts were receiving, recognizing their effectiveness in cutting through the noise of the modern “attention-deficit economy.”
This strategy, as explained by political strategist Dan Liao, is a calculated response to the new rules of political engagement established by Trump. “To a certain set of folks who operated under the old rules, this could be seen as, ‘Wow, this is really outlandish.’ But I think they are making the calculation that Democrats want folks that are going to play under this new set of rules that Trump has established.”
A Plan amidst Democratic recriminations
As the Democratic party grapples with post-election analysis and future strategy, Newsom has emerged with a distinct plan: to fight fire with fire.He is betting on California’s strong Democratic base to support a more aggressive and confrontational approach to opposing Trump and his policies.
Key Takeaways
Strategic Shift: Gavin Newsom has moved from a strategy of broadening appeal to a more direct and combative approach against Donald Trump.
Mirroring Tactics: Newsom’s team is employing tactics similar to Trump’s, including provocative social media posts.
Democratic Response: This shift reflects a broader debate within the Democratic party about how to effectively counter Trump’s political style.
California’s Role: Newsom is leveraging California’s strong Democratic support for his aggressive strategy.
Looking Ahead
Newsom’s willingness to engage in this new style of politics signals a potential shift in how Democrats approach political opposition. Whether this strategy will prove triumphant in the long term remains to be seen, but it demonstrates a clear recognition that the political landscape has been fundamentally altered and requires a new set of tactics to navigate. As the 2024 election cycle approaches, Newsom’s approach could influence the broader Democratic strategy for challenging Trump and his policies.Times staff writers Seema Mehta and laura Nelson contributed to this report.