Sen. Padilla Urges Democrats to ‘Fight Fire with Fire’ Amid Texas Gerrymandering Push

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

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Image Source: REUTERS/Kent Nishimura

California Senator Alex Padilla has issued a stark warning about the future of American democracy, calling on Democrats to take a tougher stance in response to Republican led redistricting efforts in Texas. In a pointed interview on NBC’s Meet the Press on August 3, Padilla said it’s time for his party to “fight fire with fire.”

“If Republicans were confident on their policy agenda, they'd be eager to defend it with the people and at the ballot box next November,” Padilla said. “But they know they're in trouble. So they’re trying to rig the system to hold on to power.”

Padilla was referencing the recent move by Texas Republicans to redraw congressional district maps in a controversial mid-decade redistricting effort. The push comes after former President Donald Trump openly urged GOP leaders in Texas to help flip as many as five congressional seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. “Just a very simple redrawing, we pick up five seats,” Trump told reporters on July 15.

Redistricting typically happens once every ten years following the census. However, Texas lawmakers are seeking to redraw the map mid-decade an uncommon and highly controversial move. The proposal has triggered strong backlash from Democrats across the country, with many accusing the GOP of manipulating the system to secure long-term political control.

Padilla compared Trump’s redistricting strategy to his infamous call to Georgia officials in 2020 to “find 11,780 votes” in an attempt to overturn the presidential election results.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has floated the idea of a counter response, suggesting his state may consider redrawing its own map to balance Texas’s maneuver. However, California faces a different political landscape due to its independent bipartisan redistricting commission, which limits lawmakers' control over district boundaries.

While some Democrats have expressed support for a tit-for-tat strategy, others are urging caution. Critics warn that escalating a redistricting arms race could erode public trust and deepen political polarization.

Responding to those concerns, Padilla said, “The ideal scenario is for Texas to stand down. They don't have to do this; they shouldn’t do this. But if they were to go forward and deliver Trump his five additional Republicans ... the stakes are simply too high for Democrats not to respond.”

His remarks echo a growing sentiment within the Democratic Party that more aggressive tactics may be necessary in the face of mounting threats to fair representation.

Senator Cory Booker also weighed in recently, calling on his party to show courage in defending democratic institutions. “It’s time for us to fight. It’s time for us to draw lines,” Booker said on the Senate floor on July 29.

When asked whether Booker’s defiant tone reflected the appropriate strategy under the Trump administration, Padilla responded, “I think the extreme way in which this administration is conducting itself calls for higher and higher profile ways of pushing back.”

The conversation around the integrity of American democracy has grown louder, with former Vice President Kamala Harris adding her voice to the mix. In a recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Harris announced she would not be running for California governor in 2026 and described the political system as “broken.” Padilla partially agreed with Harris, saying, “I think the system is under duress. Democrats are doing our part to try to stand up and push back.”

In summary, this article highlights the intensifying political battle over redistricting in the United States. With Texas Republicans seeking to gain a strategic advantage ahead of the midterms, Democrats like Senator Padilla and Senator Booker are urging their party to take bold action. The stakes are high, and the coming months may set the tone for how far each side is willing to go in shaping the future of American democracy.