Gov. Gavin Newsom says he fears there won’t be a 2028 election

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to remove the position of the League of Women Voters on Prop 50.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, during his Tuesday night appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” expressed concern that the United States may not hold a presidential election in 2028.

“I really mean that—in the core of my soul,” Newsom told Colbert.

The California governor accused President Donald Trump of attempting to “rig the midterm elections,” citing efforts by Trump to pressure Republican-led states into redrawing congressional districts ahead of the 2026 elections. Newsom argued that these redistricting moves are designed to help Republicans maintain their majority in the House of Representatives.

In response, Newsom signed a bill in August, calling for a Nov. 4 special election that will let Californians decide whether lawmakers should temporarily take control of drawing the state’s congressional maps, which would heavily favor Democrats.

The proposal, called the Election Rigging Response Act, would override the state’s independent redistricting commission for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections. The commission, approved by voters through ballot measures in 2008 and 2010, was designed to remove politics from the process, which is typically conducted every 10 years using U.S. Census data.

Under the plan, the commission would remain in law but lose authority – at least temporarily.

Supporters argue that the measure is necessary to counter partisan gerrymandering in GOP-led states. Opponents, however, argue it amounts to gerrymandering itself, returning power to politicians after voters had deliberately removed it.

The proposal has drawn opposition from former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the California Hispanic Chamber Of Commerce and Republican lawmakers, among others. A campaign called Protect Voters First, backed in part by philanthropist Charles Munger Jr., has launched a website urging voters to reject the measure.

Newsom’s appearance on Colbert’s show comes after multiple reports suggested he would be one of the first guests on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after the show returned to air after a brief suspension.