Trump, Putin announce 'understanding' on Ukraine after Alaska summit    Al Nassr sign Kingsley Coman from Bayern Munich in €30m deal    Saudi climate center launches project to digitize 73 years of weather records    Data centers to be expanded across UK as concerns mount    Saudi Arabia approves digital ID use for non-resident foreigners to own property    Civil Defense warns of heavy rains, flooding risk in parts of Saudi Arabia    31 Arab, Islamic nations condemn Netanyahu's 'Greater Israel' remarks and settlement expansion    Trump and Putin shake hands in Alaska for high-stakes summit    California governor unveils voting lines plan to counter Texas Republicans    Saudi Arabia launches media scholarship track to develop local talent    Des Buckingham takes charge of Al Kholood ahead of new RSL season    Music Commission to present 'Marvels of Saudi Orchestra' at Palace of Versailles on September 5    AI designs antibiotics for gonorrhoea and MRSA superbugs    HONOR introduces HONOR Magic V5 foldable at a premium regional event in Dubai    Saudi referee Reem Al-Bishi selected for FIFA Women's Futsal World Cup in Philippines    Ministry announces new regulatory requirements for factories within and outside urban areas    Universal Inspection Co. Ltd. (UIC): Transforming industrial excellence with world-class precision    Al Nassr arrive in Hong Kong targeting Saudi Super Cup glory    Red Sea International achieves 44% growth in operating profits for H1 2025 The company announces Q2 2025 financial results    Baby Shark did not plagiarize, South Korea's top court rules    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



California governor unveils voting lines plan to counter Texas Republicans
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 15 - 08 - 2025

California's Democratic governor has unveiled a high-stakes plan to redraw voting lines in America's most populous state, in order to counter similar efforts by Republicans in Texas.
Gavin Newsom called for a special election to be held in November, in which voters would be asked to approve lawmakers redrawing congressional districts before national midterms in 2026.
He billed the move as an emergency measure in response to a Donald Trump-backed plan in Texas, which could see the Republicans pick up five more seats in the finely-balanced House.
It is the latest development in a gerrymandering fight that runs the risk of setting off a political arms race for control of the US Congress.
The governor – whose term in office ends next year and is rumoured to have presidential ambitions – said it would neutralise an attempt by Trump and other Republicans to "rig the system".
"We're working through a very transparent, temporary and public process," Newsom said.
"We're putting the maps on the ballot and we're giving the power to the people."
He continued: "We have got to recognise the cards that we have been dealt and we have got to meet fire with fire."
Newsom's proposal would see California retain its current congressional maps if Texas and other states pulled out of any changes.
The tit-for-tat move seeks to cancel out projected gains by Republicans in Texas if the state approves a redistricting effort sought by Trump and the state's governor Greg Abbott.
Republicans in Texas have so far been blocked from approving new maps, as Democratic lawmakers have physically left the state, denying its legislative body the two-thirds attendance it needs to proceed with a vote.
Abbott has threatened to arrest the Democrats, who are staying in Illinois, and said he would call continuous special sessions of the state's legislature until the proposal passes.
Like other states, California typically redraws congressional districts once a decade when new population data is released by the US Census. California convenes a commission of independent citizens to do so.
The proposal in Texas to make changes mid-decade has triggered a nationwide political row, as the changes could give Republicans an easier path to keep control of the US House of Representatives and prevent challenges from Democrats that they'd face under current political maps. If Democrats gain control of the House, it could block much of Trump's legislative agenda.
Gerrymandering – the redrawing of electoral boundaries to favour a political party – has been carried out by both Democrats and Republicans across the US for decades, and is legal as long as it does not amount to racial discrimination, the Supreme Court has ruled.
Trump has said Texas is "entitled" to redraw maps and called on the FBI to put pressure on the state's Democrats to return home, paving the way for a vote.
Some are expected to return to the state as early as this weekend, saying they feel their cross-country relocation has helped generate more attention on the issue nationally.
According to US media, some made the decision to return after seeing California's plans to counter Texas's new maps.
Democrats in California – which elected 43 Democrats and nine Republicans at the last election – have not published a detailed new map, or indicated exactly how many extra seats they would envision winning under the changes. The newly redrawn political boundaries would be released in a map in the coming days, the governor said.
Newsom announced his plan – which he dubbed the Election Rigging Response Act – with a coalition of Democratic leaders. He also called for new federal standards to prevent political meddling in voting boundaries.
It is unclear if California's voters will approve Newsom's plan. Earlier this week, a Politico-Citrin Center Possibility Lab survey suggested Californians support retaining its independent districting system.
Only 36% of respondents backed returning congressional redistricting authority to state lawmakers.
Speaking to Fox on Thursday, Trump called Newsom "an incompetent governor".
He also said he was considering encouraging Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to redraw districts in the state, so that Republicans could win more seats there.
The president said other states had drawn "ridiculous" voting districts that are shaped like "rattlesnakes". – BBC


Clic here to read the story from its source.