00:00California Governor Gavin Newsom says he's moving forward with a special election to redistrict his state to offset any planned gains in the U.S. House of Representatives by Republicans.
00:12We're calling for a special election. That'll be the first week of November. It will coincide with many other municipal elections.
00:20The governor made the announcement while surrounded by Texas Democrats. Those lawmakers had fled their home state so the Texas legislature wouldn't be able to vote on redistricting in their attempt to get Republicans five more House seats.
00:33We'll pick up five seats with the consent of the people. And that's the difference between the approach we're taking and the approach they're taking. We're doing it on a temporary basis. We're doing it in a fully transparent way.
00:46And we're doing it by asking the people of the state of California for their consent and support. Mark that stark contrast to what's happening in Texas and other states.
01:00Also flanking the governor during the announcement, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
01:04This is self-defense for our democracy. They have stricken. They have hit out at our our national democracy and we are here to defend it. I thank again our Texans for their leadership, for their courage, most of all for their patriotism.
01:23Republicans are attempting to redistrict to gain five GOP seats in the U.S. House at the direction of President Trump.
01:30Texas Democrats left the state to prevent a quorum, meaning that no vote could take place.
01:35Republican lawmakers have said those Democrats are not doing their elected duty.
01:40Republican leaders have also floated removing them from their seats and gotten the FBI to agree to help find and arrest the Democrats.
01:47As for California, the chair of the California Democratic congressional delegation says they have enough support to get redistricting on a November ballot.
01:56What's unclear is if they have enough votes for it to go through.
01:59For Straight Arrow News, I'm Lauren Keenan. For more on this story, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit SAN.com.
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