Newsom fought fire with fire in the redistricting battle. Democrats got the last laugh
Your morning catch-up: The redistricting battle, a new era for Democrats and more big stories
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For Democrats, one of the most delicious ironies of their historic victory in Tuesday’s midterms is that they won many of the congressional districts President Trump and his allies had recently redrawn to favor Republicans.
As the results rolled in on Tuesday evening, one after another of those gerrymandered Republican “safe” districts in Texas, Florida, North Carolina and Alabama got swamped by the overwhelming blue wave.
Last year, California Gov. Gavin Newsom led the charge to push back against Trump’s initiative and redraw as many districts as possible in favor of Democrats. On Wednesday, he bragged on X, “We fought fire with fire. And won.”
While it’s all laughter and high-fives for Democrats now, it’s worth remembering that in the summer of 2025 they were in utter despair.
The GOP’s redrawn maps spelled doom for Democrats
It seemed they had no hope of winning the Senate in 2026. Their razor-thin chances of retaking the House appeared to be dissolving as Republicans simply broke out their Sharpies and started doodling on maps.
Congressional districts are typically adjusted once a decade, after each census. The idea is to reflect where people actually live and distribute representation accordingly.
Redrawing the maps mid-decade was a norm-busting move by Trump and his allies who made little effort to hide that it was a naked bid to tighten the president’s grip on power. He seemed to revel in Democrats’ shock and dismay.
While others were wringing their hands and writing think pieces about the fate of democracy — as Democrats tend to do — Newsom made what felt to many like an indecent proposal.
Newsom’s ‘retaliatory’ proposal
What if California, the country’s most populous state with the most congressional districts, just as cynically redrew its maps to favor Democrats?
But there was a catch: Californians had voted for a ballot proposition in 2008 to take such gamesmanship out of politicians’ hands and entrust the drawing of the maps to a (hopefully) independent, nonpartisan citizens commission. Newsom would need to get voters to approve a new proposition to change the rules.
Local conservatives were outraged.
“Gov. Gavin Newsom’s political ambitions have reached a new low. In his efforts to look like a ‘fighter’ ahead of a potential run for the presidency in 2028, he’s willing to ignore democratic rules in pursuit of political aims,” wrote Lanhee J. Chen, a former Republican candidate for state controller, in the Los Angeles Times.
Even fellow Democrats had serious misgivings, calling Newsom’s plan obviously “retaliatory,” “misguided” and a “moral conflict.”
They were right, of course — it was all of those things. But voters approved the new maps, and it worked.
Tuesday’s blue wave
Californians elected Democrats in all five of the state’s redrawn districts, after Democrat Marni von Wilpert won in what had been the lone holdout, Republican Darrell Issa’s old haunt in San Diego and Riverside counties.
From the start, Newsom understood the moral murkiness of his maneuver and included a provision returning map-drawing to the independent commission after the 2030 census.
Will that actually happen? Time will tell.
But as his party’s victory became obvious on Tuesday night, he didn’t exactly take the high road and start talking about mending fences.
In response to a post on X about Republican losses in districts reworked by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Newsom replied simply: “RON CAN’T DRAW!”
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- She grew that lead by a percentage point Wednesday afternoon as more ballots were counted, with about 52% of the vote compared with Bass’ 48%. Raman is now up by more than 25,000 votes.
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California’s billionaire tax
- California’s much-debated billionaire tax didn’t get the support many expected in one of the country’s most liberal states.
- Nearly 56% of California voters rejected the proposal while 44% voted for Proposition 40.
- However, with roughly 6 million votes still needed to be counted, the results are still too close to call.
A new era for Democrats
- Democrats heralded a new era in American politics Wednesday after voters broke Republicans’ control of government and delivered a pivotal rebuke of President Trump.
- The blue wave was so comprehensive that it handed Democrats wins that for decades have been unthinkable.
- In the Golden State, these lawmakers are positioned to reshape Washington’s climate agenda.
More news
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- Trump faults candidates and Fox News, not himself, for Republican losses.
- SoCal Berry Growers plans to close six farm locations and lay off hundreds of workers.
- A new Culver City development will add hundreds of apartments, two parks and restaurants.
- A SoCal Outback Steakhouse franchisee files for bankruptcy, citing California’s labor costs.
Commentary and opinion
- For Trump, a Democratic blowout is a stark personal repudiation, columnist Mark Z. Barabak argues.
- Trump, who so bitterly divided us, was awful enough to unite us. At least temporarily, argues columnist Steve Lopez.
- With Trump and the GOP on the run, Democrats have a chance to restore the New Deal, writes columnist Michael Hiltzik.
Editor’s pick
An epidemic of myopia now could mean an epidemic of eye disease and blindness later.
More picks
- Amid controversy, California greenlights the state’s first large reservoir in decades.
- Weather prediction betting is hot. This L.A. ice cream shop is cashing in.
Things to do
- 🎿Get to the slopes! Ski resorts in and near California will open as early as this week.
- 🎢The best holiday gifts for people obsessed with theme parks.
- 🥘Here are 29 newcomers to check out on the 2026 101 Best Restaurants guide.
Today’s recipe
With Thanksgiving only weeks away, now is a good time to perfect your favorite recipes that feature sweet potatoes. This sweet potato bread recipe is a good place to start. You can use any leftover sweet potato you have on hand, whether roasted or steamed, or you can microwave until tender a whole one that’s been pricked with a fork, about five minutes on high. Canned sweet potato works, though the bread will be a touch less flavorful.
Question for you
Are you feeling hopeful or anxious now that the elections are over?
Email us at essentialcalifornia@latimes.com, and your response might appear in the newsletter this week.
Photo of the day
Games
Here’s today’s mini crossword, plus our other free, daily crossword puzzle, sudoku, word search and jigsaw games.
Have a great day, from the Essential California team
Jack Dolan, investigative reporter
Hugo Martín, assistant editor, fast break desk
Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor
Andrew Campa, weekend writer
Karim Doumar, head of newsletters
How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@latimes.com. Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on latimes.com.
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