California Senate embarks on Democrats' redistricting plan, counter-punch to Texas

• Governor Newsom's strategy ultimately will rest with voters
• California Democrats aim to finish legislative action by Friday
• Trump-backed Texas plan nears enactment as foes threaten to sue

Aug 21 (Reuters) - The California Senate on Thursday was set to act on newly drawn political maps aimed at giving Democrats five more seats in Congress, countering a partisan advantage President Donald Trump hopes to gain from a Republican redistricting plan in Texas.

California Democrats, led by Governor Gavin Newsom, are pushing to achieve fast-track passage of their redistricting effort in the Sacramento statehouse by Friday, just in time to place it on the ballot for a special election on November 4.