Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) will kick off his effort to redraw California's congressional district maps at a press conference Thursday, but a new poll indicates trouble ahead.
A new Politico-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab survey found that 64 percent of California voters prefer the current setup, whereby an independent redistricting commission handles the state maps, compared to 36 percent who support returning congressional redistricting authority to the state Legislature.
Among independents, 72 percent favor keeping the independent commission in charge.
Newsom is preparing to call a special election to allow California voters to cast ballots on a new gerrymandered map that is more favorable to Democrats. This comes as a response to the Texas legislature's move to redraw their maps to make them more favorable for Republicans.
Newsom's proposed ballot measure would bypass the independent redistricting commission for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 election cycles, before reverting back to the existing system.
President Trump urged Texas to initiate the rare mid-decade redistricting move, arguing Republicans could pick-up an additional five House seats in the 2026 midterm elections.
Texas Democrats fled the state to deny the legislature a quorum and prevent a vote. They remain out of the state, although Gov. Greg Abbott (R) says he'll continue calling for new special legislative sessions until they return for the vote.
Other red states, including Florida and Indiana, may follow suit.
Newsom is urging other blue states, including Illinois and New York, to join him in countering the GOP's moves.
"It's time to move," Newsom said on his podcast. "You got to move. I mean, enough."
MEANWHILE…
The Labor Department's producer price index (PPI), which measures inflation before it reaches consumers, spiked higher than expected, according to new data released Thursday.
PPI rose nearly 1 percent in July, the largest jump in more than three years.
The new PPI report puts the Federal Reserve in a tough spot when it convenes to decide on interest rates next month.
The central bank is under pressure to keep prices low and employment high.
The Hill's Tobias Burns explains:
"Cutting interest rates could help support the job market by easing borrowing costs for businesses. But doing so could also add fuel to inflation, which has lingered at an annual rate of 2.7 percent for two months since June, according to the consumer price index (CPI)."
The stock market indices appear to have priced in a potential rate cut next month as they hover near record highs, although Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has been sensitive to a potential inflation spike from Trump's tariffs and has so far refused the president's demands to cut rates.
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