A political fight between two of the largest states in the United States has now reached a federal courtroom. Representative Ronny Jackson, a Republican congressman from Texas, has filed a lawsuit against California Governor Gavin Newsom. Jackson is asking a federal judge in Texas to block what he calls a “retaliatory” move by California.
Texas Representative Takes Legal Action
The dispute began after Texas lawmakers, encouraged by former President Donald Trump, approved a new congressional map. This redistricting plan was signed into law on August 29 by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The new map is expected to give Republicans five additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
California quickly responded to Texas’ action. Governor Newsom signed legislation on August 21 that schedules a statewide election in November. This election will allow California voters to decide whether to adopt a temporary congressional map. Jackson claims that this move by California directly targets Republican gains made possible by Texas’ redistricting plan.
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Jackson filed his lawsuit on August 29 in Amarillo, Texas, where he lives. The case is officially titled Jackson v. Weber and has been assigned to Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a federal judge appointed by former President Trump. Judge Kacsmaryk is based in a single-judge division in the Northern District of Texas, which often makes that court a favored choice for conservative litigants.
Claim of Retaliation and Constitutional Violation
In the lawsuit, Jackson argues that California’s decision is both unconstitutional and retaliatory. He claims the new California plan, if allowed to proceed, will weaken his influence in Washington, D.C. Jackson says this could reduce his ability to serve on important committees and might even jeopardize his position as chair of two subcommittees.
Jackson also warns that California’s actions could upset the balance of power in Congress. He points to the possibility that the November vote in California could undo Republican gains secured through Texas’ mid-decade redistricting. With control of the House of Representatives often depending on a narrow margin, changes in either state’s congressional representation could tip the balance toward one party or the other.
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The lawsuit specifically calls California’s constitutional amendment election “plainly unconstitutional.” Jackson and his lawyers, Epstein & Co. LLC and Taylor Dykema PLLC, argue that one state does not have the power to counteract another state’s redistricting plan. In their view, California’s move is designed only to punish Texas and Republican lawmakers.
This legal fight is not the only challenge surrounding Texas’ new congressional map. Separate lawsuits are already being heard in federal court, where opponents argue that Texas’ redistricting plan is racially discriminatory. They claim that the map was drawn by considering the racial makeup of voters, something that has faced legal challenges in the past.
Political Stakes Between Texas and California
The battle between Texas and California is not only about legal arguments but also about political power. Texas’ mid-decade redistricting plan, backed strongly by Trump, is seen as a way to expand Republican influence in Congress. At the same time, California’s decision to initiate a constitutional amendment election is seen as a countermeasure to limit Republican gains.
California is the largest state in the country and has the highest number of congressional districts. Texas, the second-largest state, also plays a major role in national elections. Any changes in how these two states draw their congressional maps could have a direct effect on which party controls the House of Representatives after the 2026 midterm elections.
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Representative Ronny Jackson has played a visible role in this dispute. Before entering Congress in 2021, Jackson served as Physician to the President during the Obama administration and the first part of the Trump administration. He now represents Texas in the House and is a strong supporter of Republican policies. Jackson says his position in Congress is directly at risk if California’s election is allowed to proceed.
The legal case, filed under the number 2:25-cv-00197 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, will determine whether California’s planned election can move forward. At the same time, the separate lawsuits over Texas’ new map will continue in different courts.
For now, the standoff between Texas and California highlights how deeply divided American politics has become. With both states moving in opposite directions, the conflict is now set to be decided in federal courtrooms rather than at the ballot box alone.