Gavin Newsom knows the popular image of him is of a smooth talker with slicked-back hair, the wealthy liberal who co-owns a vineyard.

Braun—who Trump relegated to the kids’ table during his star-studded inauguration—has yet to make a decision on the matter, but his counterpart in Texas, Greg Abbott, is all in on the plan, with a special redistricting session planned for this week that could net the GOP five more House seats.

A group of masked U.S. Border Patrol agents showed up in trucks outside of the press conference at the Japanese American National Museum.

"This is a guy who lays claim to want to get a Nobel Prize, sitting there and bending his knee to Mr. Putin," Newsom told a fired-up crowd.

The actor-turned-governor helped overhaul how California draws political maps. In an interview with The New York Times, he said he would fight to preserve that legacy.

Speaking to reporters after his campaign launch, Newsom batted away criticism, saying Trump had struck first by saying he was “entitled” to a GOP congressional majority. The governor had earlier this week asked Trump to block Texas and other red state from moving forward with their own redistricting efforts.

The redistrict strategy could be a boon for Newsom's 2028 ambitions during a moment when Democrats are hungry for leaders. But it's also risky.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is leaning into the redistricting fight as he looks to build his national profile ahead of a potential 2028 bid, but the move comes with political risks. Newsom