Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) tore into Republicans on Sunday, accusing them of trying to cheat their way through the midterm elections by redrawing congressional districts in Texas to lock in power.
Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Schiff said the GOP is terrified of losing and is resorting to gerrymandering to stay in control.
“Democrats offered the legislation in the last session to eliminate the gerrymander in every state. We supported, I think to a person,” Schiff said. “Republicans, I think almost to a person, maybe to a person, opposed that. It’s very clear what party wants to do away with gerrymandering.”
He took aim at Ohio Sen. JD Vance, calling him out for dodging questions about why Republicans are rigging a state they already dominate. “But it was interesting to me when you asked JD Vance, ‘Hey, if your agenda’s so popular, why are you trying to gerrymander Texas, a state that is already gerrymandered to elect Republicans?’ And he didn’t try to defend the president’s agenda,” Schiff pointed out.
Schiff didn’t hold back, blasting President Donald Trump and his allies. He called Trump “one of the most unpopular presidents in history” and said the GOP’s policies don’t connect with voters. Their solution? Change the rules.
“So, of course, the only way they feel they can survive the midterms is by redrawing the lines in Texas. California is not going to stand for this. We will fight fire with fire. Don’t poke the bear,” Schiff warned.
On Saturday, the Texas Senate pushed through the new congressional map on a strict party-line vote—18 Republicans for it, 11 Democrats against. Now it heads to Gov. Greg Abbott (R), who’s expected to sign it.
Meanwhile, California Republicans tried to block their own state’s redistricting plan led by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), but the state Supreme Court shut them down. “Petitioners have failed to meet their burden of establishing a basis for relief at this time under California Constitution article IV, section 8,” the court stated.
The battle lines are clear: Democrats say they want fair maps. Republicans are moving fast to lock in advantage. And Schiff isn’t mincing words—he says the GOP knows they can’t win on their ideas, so they’re rigging the game.
During the interview, Schiff also weighed in on the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, accusing the Trump administration of a possible cover-up.
Watch the full exchange below via NBC News.
