Celebrating his recent redistricting victory, the California governor swooped into a state led by a Republican rival and sent the latest signal about his presidential ambitions.

The man who drew the Texas redistricting map claimed voter race played no role in the process, despite democrats claiming he targeted minorities to dilute their votes.

On Aug. 3, dozens of House Democrats left Texas to halt the Legislature and block passage of the GOP’s proposed congressional map. The redistricting push came under pressure from President Donald Trump, who has called for adding five Republican seats to bolster the party’s slim House majority ahead of the 2026 midterms.

A three-judge panel hasn't decided whether to throw out or uphold the newly drawn Congressional districts that Republicans approved, which will likely provide them with five additional seats in Texas​.