California Republican leaders are hypocritical over Texas GOP gerrymandering | Opinion

“It’s undemocratic, it’s wrong, and it needs to be stopped.”

That sounds like a California Democrat describing what Texas Republicans are doing right now to redraw congressional districts. In the Lone Star State, Gov. Greg Abbott and GOP members of the Texas Legislature are trying to redo district maps so five more seats can be won by Republicans in the midterm elections next year and help the GOP maintain its majority in the House of Representatives.

That, in turn, would secure a better path for the agenda of President Donald Trump in the final years of his term.

The quote above, however, is California Republican Assemblymember James Gallagher describing how Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to redraw congressional maps in the Golden State to send more Democrats to Washington to block the effect of Trump’s proposals, if enacted.

Newsom has described it as “fighting fire with fire.”

Gallagher — whose 3rd District represents Butte, Glenn, Placer, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba counties — is the former Assembly GOP leader. So his criticism of Newsom is nothing new.

But what is glaringly missing from his statement is any mention of his GOP brethren in Texas. Without question, Gallagher’s quote reflects on them as much as it does Newsom’s redistricting plan. Also missing in action: Condemnation from any other California GOP leader.

Criticizing Texas and Trump over their gambit would have been the right thing to do, even if it violated the Ronald Reagan adage to never speak ill of a fellow Republican.

Had California Republicans spoken out against the dangers inherent in the redistricting war kicked off by Texas, California’s Democratic voters might have taken notice. It might have earned California Republicans some new support. But leave it to Gallagher and his colleagues in the state house to miss the moment.

Kevin Kiley redistricting ban

One California Republican is taking a step against midterm redistricting — Rep. Kevin Kiley of Rocklin.

He filed a bill this week in light of Newsom wanting to change California’s lines. “Gavin Newsom is trying to subvert the will of voters and do lasting damage to democracy in California,” Kiley said in a statement.

Kiley said his bill “will nullify new maps adopted by states before the 2030 census, including any that are adopted this year.” Kiley said the legislation is needed to “stop a damaging redistricting war from breaking out across the country.”

Left unsaid is how his 3rd District seat is being eyed by Democrats for redrawing.

Given how House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana has kowtowed to Trump on almost every issue this year, it is doubtful he will let Kiley’s bill advance.

Texas GOP plan is bad politics

After gaining an Assembly seat in last year’s election and seeing the successful tough-on-crime Proposition 36 approved by voters, the GOP was feeling momentum swinging back in California, if ever so slightly. That said, Republicans remain a superminority — the Assembly has 19 GOP members to 60 Democrats.

That superminority status will continue if California’s Republicans continue in lockstep with Trump and the politics of red states like Texas. Trump lost California in the November election by 20 points to Democrat Kamala Harris. If Republicans ever aspire to win a statewide office in California again, they will have to forge a political future that is devoid of MAGA.

In other words, California Republicans will need to call out bad politics whenever and wherever they occur.

This story was originally published August 7, 2025 at 5:30 AM with the headline "California Republican leaders are hypocritical over Texas GOP gerrymandering | Opinion."