Overview

• California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he fears the U.S. will not hold a presidential election in 2028 unless the country responds to what he called a “code red” threat to democracy.
• He accused President Donald Trump of trying to rig the 2026 midterm elections through partisan redistricting pushes in GOP-led states, highlighting Texas as a key example.
• Newsom promoted California’s response with Proposition 50, a Nov. 4 special election measure that would temporarily let lawmakers draw the state’s congressional maps in place of the independent commission.
• Citing “authoritarian actions,” he pointed to Trump’s federalization of forces and troop deployments to Los Angeles and alleged abuses by masked officers in unmarked vehicles, including an incident involving a 15-year-old disabled student.
• Reaction was swift, with White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson calling the warning absurd, GOP Assembly leader James Gallagher disputing the claims, and Vice President J.D. Vance condemning Newsom’s rhetoric as dangerous.