Speaker Johnson Slams Gavin Newsom's Power Grab

August 18, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) issued the following statement on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s power grab in California unveiled over the weekend:

"Gavin Newsom’s latest attempt to disenfranchise millions of California voters was written in the dark of night by the DCCC—more than 2,700 miles away from Sacramento in Washington. This is a slap in the face to Californians who overwhelmingly support the California Citizens Redistricting Commission.

 "Unlike other states, California must shred its own Constitution to succeed in its desperate gambit to ‘end the Trump presidency.’ Voters in California and across the nation see through this partisan stunt.

 "Gavin Newsom should spend less time trampling his state’s laws for a blatant power grab, and more time working to change the disastrous, far-left policies that are destroying California. Newsom obviously wants to launch a presidential campaign on the backs of disenfranchised California voters, but it will not work.

 "Democrats across the nation have played politics with redistricting for decades, and this is just the latest example. Republicans who are following state and federal laws will not be lectured by people who abused the system. I have instructed the NRCC to use every measure and resource possible to fight the California  Democrats’ illegal power grab. I will continue to lead efforts to defend our House Republican incumbents and grow our majority so that we can continue to deliver on our commonsense, America First agenda."

 As California Democrats announced proposed new districts over the weekend, it was uncovered that the California maps were submitted by the DCCC. NRCC Chairman Richard Hudson also announced the NRCC is prepared to fight these efforts, "in the courts and at the ballot box."