Newsom signs redistricting proposal to reshape congressional map in favor of Democrats

Retaliatory strike against gerrymandered maps in Texas now heads to voters in a special election this November

California governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday signed a sweeping redistricting proposal aimed at redrawing the state's congressional boundaries to create five new Democratic US House seats - a direct response to the gerrymandered maps Republicans in Texas are advancing at the behest of Donald Trump.

The Democratic-controlled state legislature voted to advance a legislative package revising California's maps after hours of debate. With Newsom's signature, the measure now heads to voters in a special election this November.