California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is leaning into the redistricting fight as he looks to build his national profile ahead of a potential 2028 bid, but the move comes with political risks.

Newsom formally declared his plans at a rally Thursday to call a special election for November that would allow state lawmakers to redraw California’s congressional map in response to President Trump urging red states to do the same.

The plan comes as Newsom positions himself as the most vocal Trump critic on the national stage — and amid speculation he’s planning to mount a White House bid in the coming years. But it also represents a political gamble that could backfire on the governor, as the state’s independent redistricting commission remains popular with voters and several high-profile figures, including former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), have vowed to campaign against the initiative.

“This is a gigantic roll of the dice, with national implications,” said California Democratic strategist Steven Maviglio.

Newsom has been trending in this direction for weeks as Texas Republicans barrel forward with plans to approve new congressional districts that would net them up to five additional seats in the House in next year’s midterms. He’s said he would only move forward if another state did first, but with Texas Democrats expected to return to the state soon, the governor is going all in on his response.

The process won’t be easy, as it requires the legislature to pass a ballot measure with a supermajority to quickly get it to voters for the November election and then will need a wide-ranging messaging campaign to rally support. Newsom previously told The Hill that........

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