With fellow Democrats in the state Legislature now on board with the redistricting plan, Newsom is turning his attention to the larger challenge ahead: convincing California voters to set aside a political map drawn by an independent commission in favor of a plan aimed at helping Democrats retake the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026.

“Donald Trump does not play fair, you’ve seen that over and over again,” Newsom said. “I’m just not going to sit back and be complicit, and I don’t think the people of the state of California are going to be complicit this November.”

A POLITICO-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab survey released Thursday signaled potential hesitancy among voters to follow Newsom’s call. The poll found 64% of California voters support keeping the independent commission, compared to 36% who want to hand congressional redistricting to the state Legislature.

The poll’s question was framed around the role of the commission, which was created by voters in 2008 and given the power to draw House district lines in 2010. Supporters of the independent maps have praised the commission’s inclusive process and credited the system with fostering competitive congressional elections in the state.

But Newsom’s campaign will instead focus on the political stakes for Democrats and the opportunity to provide a check on Trump by breaking the Republican hold on Congress. Roughly 60% of California voters regularly support Democrats in statewide elections, and the Nov. 4 vote could give restless Democratic voters an opportunity to hit back at the GOP.

“This isn’t about redistricting,” Los Angeles Assemblymember Isaac Bryan said. “This is about whether we will let the authoritarian in the White House break our democracy while we sit silent.”