California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that he is moving forward with putting proposed new congressional maps for the state on the ballot in a Nov. 4 special election in an attempt to counter mid-decade redistricting being pushed by Republicans in Texas.

California’s redistricting measure, which Gov. Newsom signed into law last Thursday, is an “emergency defensive tactic,” says a former Santa Barbara County redistricting committee member.

SACRAMENTO, California — The California Legislature voted on Thursday to ask the state’s voters to gerrymander their congressional districts, aiming to flip five GOP-held House seats and offset Texas Republicans’ redistricting drive.