Former Texas Senate candidate and failed 2020 Democratic presidential contender Beto ORourke called for Democrats to be "ruthless" in their pursuit of power and endorsed partisan gerrymandering."We have to get serious. Wehave to be absolutely ruthlessabout getting back in power. So,yes, in California, in Illinois,in New York, wherever we havethe trifecta of power, we haveto use that to its absoluteextent," ORourke told CNN "State of the Union" host Jake Tapper.The two were discussing a Texas proposal to redraw congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms to decrease the number of Democratic-represented districts in a process known as gerrymandering. The proposal, if adopted, could add up to five GOP-friendly congressional districts in the Lone Star State and President Trump has come out in favor of such a move.COURT SHUTS DOWN REDISTRICTING FIGHT IN KEY SWING STATE HERES WHAT IT MEANSIn response, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed repealing a 2010 state law which vested the power to redraw congressional maps to a nonpartisan independent commission once every ten years and restore that function to the state legislature. Such a move, which would be difficult to pull off politically, could allow his state to establish congressional districts on a partisan basis."Gov. Gavin Newsom has talked about redistricting in his state. I think its time we matched fire with fire," ORourke said when asked if he supports Newsoms proposal. "Democrats in the past too oftenhave been more concerned withbeing right than being in power.And weve seen the Republicans only care about being inpower regardless of what isright."ORourkes rhetoric surrounding the Democratic Party echoed remarks made by the California governor at a July press conference where he floated the idea of eliminating the independent commission.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE"We can act holier than thou, we can sit on the sidelines, talk about the way the world should be. Or, we can recognize the existential nature that is this moment," Newsom said.The independent commissions powers are enshrined in California state law, and Newsom will face an uphill battle in changing them. He has proposed two approaches toward subverting his states constitution. One would be for the legislature to pass a law giving itself the power to redraw congressional maps mid-decade a move that would likely be struck down by the courts or to put a change to the Golden States constitution up for referendum.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTUREThe Texas Democrat also warned that Republican efforts to gerrymander could end up biting them in the "a" because they run the risk of dispersing GOP voters and inadvertently putting formerly strong red districts in play.