Monday, February 23, 2026

Dem Rep Under Investigation for Fraud Enters CA Governor Race.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) announced his candidacy for California governor, entering a crowded race to replace Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Eric Swalwell, a seven-term congressman, and several other candidates, including Katie Porter, Xavier Becerra, and billionaire green agenda enthusiast Tom Steyer.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Swalwell launched his campaign late Thursday night during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

💬KEY QUOTE: “I’m running for Governor because prices are too high and people are scared,” Swalwell wrote on his campaign website.

🎯IMPACT: Swalwell’s campaign launch comes amid allegations of mortgage and tax fraud, which have been referred to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for investigation.

IN FULL

Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) has officially entered the California governor’s race, joining a growing list of far-left Democrats vying to win their party’s nomination and replace Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA). Swalwell, who represents part of the San Francisco Bay Area, initially announced his campaign on his website, stating he is running with “fresh ideas and tremendous heart.”

“I’m running for Governor because prices are too high and people are scared,” Swalwell wrote. The far-left Democrat lawmaker also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Thursday night, where he said, “I’ve been in these fights as a city council member up in Dublin, my hometown, as a prosecutor in Oakland, and taking on the most corrupt president ever in the U.S. Congress, but I’m ready to bring this fight home.”

Swalwell joins a crowded field of candidates that includes former Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), former Biden government Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, and radical green agenda billionaire Tom Steyer, among others. The congressman, who has served seven terms in the House, previously ran as an afterthought for president during the 2020 election.

Notably, Swalwell’s campaign launch comes amid allegations of mortgage and tax fraud. Last week, Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte criminally referred Swalwell to the Department of Justice (DOJ), citing evidence that the congressman declared his primary residence as Washington, D.C., rather than California, to secure several million dollars in loans and refinancing. The referral recommends an investigation into whether Swalwell committed mortgage fraud, state and local tax fraud, and insurance fraud.

The National Pulse reported in December 2024 that a Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General (IG) report named then Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Swalwell as the two primary leakers of classified materials to corporate media outlets during the Democrats’ Russiagate hoax. Swalwell’s mishandling of classified information and the allegations of financial fraud are likely to be major hurdles for his campaign.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Now the Indiana GOP Is Throwing in the Towel on Redistricting?

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Indiana’s GOP state senate leader announced the chamber will not reconvene in December to redraw congressional maps, dealing a setback to President Donald J. Trump’s redistricting push.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, Indiana Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray (R), Vice President J.D. Vance, and Indiana lawmakers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcement made on Friday in Indianapolis, Indiana.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Today, I’m announcing there are not enough votes to move that idea forward, and the Senate will not reconvene in December.” – Rodric Bray

🎯IMPACT: The decision weakens the GOP’s efforts to secure a stronger House majority through redistricting, while Democrats ramp up similar efforts in other states.

IN FULL

Indiana state Republican lawmakers announced Friday that the state Senate will no longer convene in December to redraw congressional maps, delivering a significant blow to President Donald J. Trump‘s push for mid-decade redistricting to preserve his Republican House of Representatives majority. State Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray (R) made the decision to forego the December special session after determining the effort lacked the support to be successful after a failed test vote.

“Today, I’m announcing there are not enough votes to move that idea forward, and the Senate will not reconvene in December,” Bray said in a statement. The decision comes despite efforts by Vice President J.D. Vance, who visited Indiana multiple times to lobby lawmakers, and President Trump, who had hosted Bray and other state leaders in the Oval Office to discuss the matter in August.

The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from Trump’s allies. Alex Bruesewitz, a supporter of the America First leader, took to X (formerly Twitter) to call out Bray and other Republicans, saying, “Our party can no longer afford to harbor these gutless, self-serving traitors who stab us in the back while accomplishing absolutely nothing.” Meanwhile, Governor Mike Braun (R-IN) urged the Senate to “do the right thing and show up to vote for fair maps.”

Democrats, on the other hand, celebrated the decision. Representative Andre Carson (D-IN), whose seat was likely to be redrawn, praised the move, stating, “Prayer, people, and partnerships power change. Hoosiers do things differently. We’re about collaboration, not division.” Carson commended Bray and other lawmakers for sticking to “Hoosier values.”

The setback in Indiana is part of a broader struggle for Republican-led redistricting efforts, which have also stalled in Kansas, Nebraska, and New Hampshire. Meanwhile, Democrats are advancing their own redistricting plans in states like California and Virginia, which could potentially result in the gain of several seats.

Image by Ted Eytan.

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Trump Sues to Block California’s Congressional Redistricting Plan.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit to block California’s newly approved congressional district boundaries.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump administration, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), and California voters.

📍WHEN & WHERE: California, November 13, 2025.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Race cannot be used as a proxy to advance political interests, but that is precisely what the California General Assembly did with Proposition 50.” – DOJ Lawsuit

🎯IMPACT: The lawsuit could influence control of the U.S. House in the 2026 midterm elections.

IN FULL

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Thursday that it is suing to block California’s newly approved congressional district boundaries, setting the stage for a legal battle that could shape the 2026 midterm elections. Filed in federal court, the lawsuit seeks to challenge Proposition 50, a constitutional amendment passed by California voters that temporarily suspends the state’s redistricting commission, allowing the legislature to redraw district lines.

In the filing—in which the DOJ is joining a lawsuit already being brought by the California Republican Party—the Trump administration accuses California of racial gerrymandering, alleging the state used race as a factor to favor Hispanic voters. “Race cannot be used as a proxy to advance political interests, but that is precisely what the California General Assembly did with Proposition 50,” the lawsuit states. It seeks to prevent the state from using the new map in future elections.

Proposition 50, advanced by Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA), aims to help Democrats gain five Republican-held seats in the House. Newsom’s move follows a Republican-led redistricting effort in Texas, supported by President Donald J. Trump. The outcome of the DOJ’s challenge could have significant implications for party control in the House of Representatives. Republicans currently hold 219 seats, while Democrats hold 214, leaving Democrats needing only a small gain to reclaim the majority.

The National Pulse reported earlier this month that Kansas Republicans abandoned efforts to hold a special legislative session in order to pass a redistricting plan that would have targeted Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D-KS), the only Democrat member of the state’s congressional delegation. State Representative Dan Hawkins (R), the state House Speaker, announced on Tuesday that he lacked the votes to convene a special session without the approval of Governor Laura Kelly (D-KS).

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Stefanik Neck and Neck With Hochul in NY Governor Race.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A poll shows Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) trailing New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) by only three percentage points in a hypothetical gubernatorial match-up.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rep. Elise Stefanik, Gov. Kathy Hochul, and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The poll was conducted November 9-10 among 500 likely New York voters.

🎯IMPACT: The poll suggests Hochul is vulnerable to a 2026 challenge by Stefanik and indicates increasingly competitive election dynamics in New York.

IN FULL

A new poll conducted by J.L. Partners shows Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) trailing incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul (D) by just three points in a hypothetical gubernatorial match-up. The survey of 500 likely New York voters found Hochul leading Stefanik 46 percent to 43 percent, with 11 percent undecided.

Stefanik, who recently announced her gubernatorial campaign, has positioned herself as a strong supporter of President Donald J. Trump. She was first elected to Congress in 2014 to represent New York’s 21st Congressional District and served as the House GOP Conference Chair from 2021 to 2025. Trump had nominated her for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in January, but the nomination was later withdrawn to ensure her vote remained in Congress for key legislative priorities.

The poll also revealed that Stefanik enjoys a commanding lead over Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R) in a potential GOP primary, with 74 percent support compared to Blakeman’s five percent. Blakeman, 70, is believed to be preparing to announce his candidacy for governor soon.

Gov. Hochul’s job performance received mixed reviews in the poll, with 40 percent of respondents strongly or somewhat approving and 54 percent strongly or somewhat disapproving. Meanwhile, 37 percent of voters view Stefanik very or somewhat favorably, while 32 percent hold unfavorable views of her.

The survey, conducted November 9-10, has a margin of error of 4.4 percent.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Trump Endorses RINO Overseeing Massive Surge in Islam in His State.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump issued a “Complete and Total” endorsement of Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) as Abbott launched his reelection campaign. Previously, Trump criticized Abbott for his failure to support America First Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, calling him “MISSING IN ACTION!”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Governor Abbott, and the people of Texas.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Abbott launched his campaign on Sunday in Houston, Texas. Trump issued his endorsement on Tuesday via Truth Social.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Greg Abbott is the strong and highly respected Governor of Texas, a State I love and WON BIG three times, including with 6.4 Million Votes in 2024 (The most Votes in History, BY FAR)!” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: Abbott has a patchy track record, failing to strongly support Attorney General Ken Paxton during Democrat-led impeachment efforts, and declining to organize a full forensic audit of the 2020 election. He has also overseen a rising Islamic influence in his state, with the Texas House declaring an annual “Pakistan Day” earlier this year.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump announced Tuesday that he will back Greg Abbott in his bid to be re-elected as Governor of Texas, giving the Republican incumbent his “Complete and Total” endorsement. Trump praised Abbott as “an exceptional Governor and man” in a Truth Social post, despite previously criticizing his failure to support America First Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton when he was the subject of a Democrat-led impeachment effort, saying, “MISSING IN ACTION! Where is the Governor of Texas on his Attorney General’s Impeachment?”

Trump highlighted Abbott’s role in passing the Texas mid-decade redistricting bill, which could add five Republican congressional seats in the 2026 Midterm Elections. “Thanks to Greg’s bold and effective Leadership, the wonderful people of Texas will have the opportunity to elect 5 new MAGA Republicans in the 2026 Midterm Elections with the passage of their new, fair, and much improved, Congressional Map — A BIG WIN for Republicans in The Lone Star State, and across the Country!” Trump wrote.

However, in the past, he has criticized Abbott for being weak on election integrity, saying of his decision not to organize a statewide forensic audit of the 2020 election, “By allowing the Democrats to do what they do, it will make it much harder for the Governor and other Republicans to win election in 2022 and into the future. Texas is a much redder state than anyone knows, but this is the way to make sure it turns blue.”

Notably, there have long been fears that Texas could become a “purple” state due to a steady influx of liberals and migrants. There are indications that this demographic shift is beginning to influece Texan culture, with Islam on the rise and the GOP-led Texas House of Representatives even declaring an annual “Pakistan Day” in April.

Abbott, who is seeking a fourth term as governor, responded by calling Trump’s endorsement an “honor.” In an interview, Abbott said, “President Trump and I have a good, long-standing, working relationship, and there’s a substantive reason behind that. We both believe in the rule of law. We both believe in public safety. We both believed in securing the borders.”

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Kansas GOP Abandons Redistricting Battle Despite California Democrats’ Victory.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Kansas Republicans decided against pursuing a mid-decade redistricting effort that could have affected the state’s sole Democratic congressional district.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Republican state House Speaker Dan Hawkins, Republican state Senate President Ty Masterson, Democratic Governor Laura Kelly, and Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Kansas, with announcements and developments occurring in late October and early November 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Planning a Special Session is always going to be an uphill battle with multiple agendas, scheduling conflicts, and many unseen factors at play.” – Dan Hawkins

🎯IMPACT: The decision delays redistricting efforts in Kansas, while other states like Texas, Missouri, and California move forward with partisan map changes.

IN FULL

Kansas Republicans have abandoned efforts to hold a special legislative session in order to pass a redistricting plan that would have targeted Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D-KS), the only Democrat member of the state’s congressional delegation. State Representative Dan Hawkins (R), the state House Speaker, announced on Tuesday that he lacked the votes to convene a special session without the approval of Governor Laura Kelly (D-KS).

“Planning a Special Session is always going to be an uphill battle with multiple agendas, scheduling conflicts, and many unseen factors at play,” Hawkins said in a statement, while emphasizing that Republicans still “wish to have a conversation about redistricting.” State Senate President Ty Masterson (R), the gubernatorial frontrunner, stated that redistricting remains a “top priority” for the legislature when it reconvenes in January.

Congresswoman Davids responded to the news on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “For months, extreme Republican legislators in Topeka have been scheming with D.C. politicians to silence Kansas voices. Today, we’ve won the first round in this fight against gerrymandering. But their plan to cheat the system isn’t over.”

Masterson, however, emphasized the continued goal of redrawing the state congressional map, saying, “In 2016, 2020, and again in 2024, Kansans gave President Trump overwhelming record numbers, and they expect their elected leaders to keep fighting for his America-First agenda. That’s exactly what we’ve done in the Senate, and that’s exactly what we’ll keep doing. We’re not backing down, and we’re not sitting out of this fight.”

Meanwhile, other states, such as Texas, Missouri, and others, have moved forward with their own redistricting efforts, creating additional Republican-leaning districts. California voters, in contrast, approved a measure to create up to five more Democratic-leaning seats, with over $100 million spent on the campaign supporting the proposal. Virginia Democrats have also initiated a special session aimed at gaining up to three additional congressional seats ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Stefanik Could Become New York’s First GOP Governor in 20 Years, Poll Shows.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A new poll from the Manhattan Institute shows Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY) leading both Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) and Lieutenant Governor Anthony Delgado (D-NY) in a hypothetical New York gubernatorial matchup.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Elise Stefanik, Kathy Hochul, Anthony Delgado, and the Manhattan Institute.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Poll conducted October 22-26, 2025, surveying New York voters.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This marks the first time in decades that any potential Republican gubernatorial candidate is polling ahead of a Democrat incumbent Governor, even before any official announcement.” – Bernadette Breslin, spokesman for Elise Stefanik.

🎯IMPACT: The poll suggests Republicans could make the New York gubernatorial race competitive for the first time in decades, though forecasters still classify the race as Likely Democratic.

IN FULL

Republicans may have a rare opportunity to win the New York gubernatorial office, according to a new poll from the Manhattan Institute. The survey found Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY) leading Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) by one point (43 percent to 42 percent) and Lieutenant Governor Anthony Delgado (D-NY) by six points (43 percent to 37 percent). The poll, which surveyed 600 New York City voters and 300 New York State voters from October 22 to October 26, 2025, had a margin of error of ±3.3 percentage points.

Stefanik, a northern New York congresswoman and prominent supporter of President Donald J. Trump, has not officially announced her candidacy but is seen as a strong contender for Republicans. Hochul, on the other hand, is seeking reelection after a narrower-than-expected victory in 2022. She is also facing a primary challenge from Delgado, though polling suggests she maintains an advantage among Democratic voters.

Other recent polls have shown varying results. A Siena College poll conducted in early September 2025 showed Hochul with a 25-point lead over Stefanik, while a GrayHouse poll found Hochul leading initially but Stefanik gaining ground after voters were presented with additional information about the candidates. Both polls suggest that the race could tighten as the election approaches.

Bernadette Breslin, a spokesman for Stefanik, highlighted the significance of the Manhattan Institute poll, stating, “This marks the first time in decades that any potential Republican gubernatorial candidate (and in this case, the likely nominee) is polling ahead of a Democrat incumbent Governor, even before any official announcement.” Breslin also criticized Hochul for her policies, calling her “the Worst Governor in America” and accusing her of putting New Yorkers last.

The increasingly likely election of socialist Zohran Mamdani as Mayor of New York City could have a significant impact on the 2026 gubernatorial race. Hochul threw her support behind the far-left Mamdani in September, despite concerns among Democratic leaders over the mayoral candidate’s extreme policy proposals. The National Pulse previously reported that Mamdani has pushed plans for an additional $100 million in taxpayer funds to provide legal defense for illegal immigrants facing deportation, advocated for “the abolition of private property,” proposed socialist city-owned grocery stores, and detailed a controversial plan to “[s]hift the tax burden from overtaxed homeowners in the outer boroughs to more expensive homes in richer and whiter neighborhoods.”

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State Legislature Passes Trump-Backed Election Map Adding GOP House Seat.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: North Carolina Republican lawmakers approved new U.S. House district maps aimed at securing an additional GOP seat for the 2026 elections.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: North Carolina General Assembly Republicans, Democratic Rep. Don Davis, and state Democrats.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The maps were finalized on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, in North Carolina’s legislative chambers.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “The new congressional map improves Republican political strength in eastern North Carolina and will bring in an additional Republican seat to North Carolina’s congressional delegation.” – GOP Rep. Brenden Jones

🎯IMPACT: Republicans could secure 11 of 14 U.S. House seats in North Carolina, bolstering GOP efforts to maintain control of Congress.

IN FULL

North Carolina Republican lawmakers adopted new U.S. House district maps on Wednesday, aiming to secure an additional GOP seat in the 2026 elections. The state House approved the maps following a party-line vote in the Senate on Tuesday. The changes are likely to significantly reduce the reelection odds for Congressman Don Davis (D-NC), who represents a district in northeastern North Carolina that is considered a swing seat as neither Republicans nor Democrats hold a clear partisan advantage.

Republicans currently hold majorities in both chambers of the North Carolina General Assembly, and Governor Josh Stein ID-NC) cannot veto redistricting maps under state law. This leaves the GOP’s proposal poised for implementation unless legal challenges from Democrats or voting rights groups succeed. Candidate filing for the 2026 elections is set to begin on December 1, 2025.

Speaking on the floor, state Representative Brenden Jones (R), defended the mid-cycle district  redraw, arguing: “The new congressional map improves Republican political strength in eastern North Carolina and will bring in an additional Republican seat to North Carolina’s congressional delegation.” Democrats, however, criticized the maps as a racial gerrymander, with state Rep. Gloristine Brown (D) declaring, “You are silencing Black voices and are going against the will of your constituents.”

The new map could shift counties in Rep. Davis’s 1st District to a coastal district more favorable to Republicans. Statewide election data suggests the GOP could win 11 of 14 House seats under the new boundaries. However, the new districts will likely draw numerous legal challenges from Democrats and leftist lawfare groups who claim the map violates the Voting Rights Act.

Republican leaders in the state legislature contend that the redistricting was based on political considerations, not racial data. GOP leaders also pointed to North Carolina’s support for President Donald J. Trump in recent presidential elections as justification for increasing Republican representation in Congress. Senate leader Phil Berger said the maps align with “listening to the will of the people.”

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NY GOP Backs Michael Henry Against Indicted, Anti-Trump Letitia James for AG.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Five GOP leaders from New York City endorsed Michael Henry to challenge Letitia James, who is facing a criminal indictment for mortgage fraud, for Attorney General.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Michael Henry, Letitia James, GOP chairs from Brooklyn, Staten Island, Bronx, Queens, and Manhattan.

📍WHEN & WHERE: October 14, 2025; New York City.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “He understands what New Yorkers are facing and will not bow to political pressure or partisan witch hunts.” – Liam McCabe

🎯IMPACT: Henry aims to leverage the endorsement to strengthen his campaign against James.

IN FULL

The Republican committee chairmen from New York City‘s five boroughs have thrown their support behind Michael Henry, who is preparing to challenge Letitia James for the position of state Attorney General. These endorsements come as Henry attempts to unseat James following his previous attempt in 2022, which saw him fall just 500,000 votes shy of defeating the anti-Trump Democrat.

Brooklyn GOP Chair Liam McCabe praised Henry, stating, “He understands what New Yorkers are facing and will not bow to political pressure or partisan witch hunts.” Henry, a commercial litigator, had garnered 45 percent of the vote in his previous race against James, which McCabe noted was “the best showing for a Republican in decades.”

Henry is capitalizing on the state’s campaign finance matching system to boost his campaign, having around $275,000 in the bank as of June. Staten Island Republican Chair Michael Tannousis emphasized Henry’s approach, saying, “As an attorney and as a leader, he represents the kind of common-sense, law-and-order approach this city and state need.”

Henry has criticized James’ handling of her office, asserting that he would not “weaponize” the law for political purposes. He stated, “New Yorkers deserve an Attorney General who will enforce the law fairly, not weaponize it for politics.” During her tenure as New York’s Attorney General, James pursued a highly partisan lawfare campaign against President Donald J. Trump in an effort to directly interfere in the 2024 election and prevent the America First leader from retaking the White House.

With additional endorsements from gubernatorial candidate Congressswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY)—along with Manhattan GOP Chair Andrea Catsimatidis and Queens GOP Chair Tony Nunziato—Henry is positioning himself as a strong contender in the upcoming election against James, who has been accused by Bronx GOP Chairman Mike Rendino of turning the Attorney General’s Office into a “political weapon.”

The National Pulse previously reported that James is facing a criminal indictment for mortgage fraud. The charges relate to a 2023 mortgage James took out to assist her niece in purchasing a home in Norfolk, Virginia.

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Is Obama Becoming an Election Denier?

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former President Barack Obama appeared in an advertisement urging California voters to support Governor Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) redistricting campaign, Proposition 50, ahead of a special election next month, claiming Republicans are stealing the 2026 midterm elections.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Barack Obama, Gov. Newsom, California voters, and Republican lawmakers targeted by the campaign.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ad began airing on Tuesday, with the special election set for November 4 in California.

💬KEY QUOTE: Obama’s ad accuses Republicans of attempting to “steal enough seats in Congress to rig the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years.”

🎯IMPACT: If passed, Prop 50 would circumvent the state’s independent redistricting commission to target the districts of five GOP lawmakers in California, in the name of countering Republican redistricting efforts in other states.

IN FULL

Former President Barack Obama is urging California voters to back Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom‘s Proposition 50 redistricting campaign, claiming it is needed to stop Republicans from stealing the 2026 midterm congressional elections. In a 30-second advertisement released Tuesday, Obama stated, “California, the whole nation is counting on you. Democracy is on the ballot November 4.”

Obama’s ad accuses Republicans of attempting to “steal enough seats in Congress to rig the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years.” He urges voters to approve Prop 50, claiming it would “stop Republicans in their tracks.”

The advertisement is drawing allegations that Obama is setting the stage for Democrats to deny and undermine the outcome of the midterm election results should Republicans retain control of Congress, while justifying Newsom’s bid to tilt the congressional map in the Democrats’ favor. Notably, the former Biden government moved to criminally prosecute Republicans, including President Donald J. Trump, for challenging the integrity of the 2020 elections.

Newsom launched the campaign earlier this year. It aims to overturn his state’s independent redistricting commission and allow the Democrat-controlled legislature to redraw California’s congressional map. Newsom and his allies are specifically targeting five California Republican congressmen, hoping to alter their districts to be more favorable to Democratic candidates.

While Democrats hold a financial advantage in the campaign, polling indicates that a majority of California voters oppose Proposition 50. At an August fundraiser, Obama acknowledged that “political gerrymandering” was not his “preference” but argued that Democrats must respond to President Trump and his congressional allies. He warned that GOP-controlled state governments and the White House “do not appear to believe in this idea of an inclusive, expansive democracy.”

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