California Gov. Gavin Newsom stood with other prominent Democratic leaders Thursday to announce that the state will move forward with a partisan plan to redraw congressional maps in an effort to help his party win five more U.S. House seats in 2026. The move is a direct response to a Republican-led effort in Texas, pushed by President Donald Trump as his party seeks to maintain its slim House majority after the midterm elections. Texas lawmakers are considering a new map that would help them send five more Republicans to Washington, but Democrats have so far halted a vote by leaving the state to prevent their GOP colleagues from meeting Trump’s demands. “We can’t stand back and watch this democracy disappear district by district all across the country," Newsom said Thursday as he called for a Nov. 4 special election to put the new maps before voters. State lawmakers must officially declare the special election, which they plan to do next week. The Democrats' proposed maps still haven't been released. That's expected Friday. Then lawmakers plan to quickly approve them next week. Democrats hold supermajorities in both chambers. Democrats signaled Thursday that they plan to make the campaign about more than maps, tying it explicitly to the fate of American democracy and as an opportunity for voters to reject Trump's policies. “Donald Trump, you have poked the bear and we will punch back,” Newsom, who is seen as a possible 2028 presidential contender, said at a news conference with other Democrats.