Introduction to Redistricting
California Lawmakers Take Up Plan to Redraw Congressional Districts
SACRAMENTO — California Democrats on Monday kicked off the process to redraw the state’s congressional districts, an extraordinary action they said was necessary to neutralize efforts by President Trump and Texas Republicans to increase the number of GOP lawmakers in Congress.
If approved by state lawmakers this week, Californians will vote on the ballot measure, labeled Proposition 50, in a special election in November.
The Reasoning Behind Redistricting
Response to Trump’s Efforts
At a news conference unveiling the legislation, Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) said they agreed with Gov. Gavin Newsom that California must respond to Trump’s efforts to “rig” the 2026 midterms by working to reduce by half the number of Republicans in the state’s 52-member congressional delegation.
They said doing so is essential to stymieing the president’s far-right agenda.
Reactions to the Plan
Democrats and Republicans Weigh In
“I want to make one thing very clear, I’m not happy to be here. We didn’t choose this fight. We don’t want this fight,” said Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park). “But with our democracy on the line, we cannot run away from this fight, and when the dust settles on election day, we will win.”
Republicans accused Democrats of trying to subvert the will of the voters, who passed independent redistricting 15 years ago, for their own partisan goals.
“The citizens seized back control of the power from the politicians in 2010,” said Assemblymember Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego), flanked by GOP legislators and signs in the Capitol rotunda that said, “Rigged map” and “Defend fair elections.”
“Let me be very clear,” DeMaio said. “Gavin Newsom and other politicians have been lying in wait, with emphasis on lying … to seize back control.”
The Proposal and Its Implications
Details of the Plan
After Trump urged Texas to redraw its congressional districts to add five new GOP members to Congress, Newsom and California Democrats began calling to temporarily reconfigure the current congressional district boundaries, which were drawn by the voter-approved independent redistricting commission in 2021.
Other states are also now considering redrawing their congressional districts, escalating the political battle over control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressional districts are typically reconfigured once every decade after the U.S. census.
Newsom, other Democratic lawmakers and labor leaders launched a campaign supporting the redrawing of California’s congressional districts on Thursday, and proposed maps were sent to state legislative leaders on Friday.
The measures that lawmakers will take up this week would:
- Give Californians the power to amend the state Constitution and approve new maps, drawn by Democrats, that would be in place for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 congressional elections, if any GOP-led states approve their own maps.
- Provide funding for the November special election.
- Return the state to a voter-approved independent redistricting commission to redraw congressional districts after the 2030 census.
Comparison with Other States
Ohio’s Unique Situation
Whereas Texas and several other GOP-led states are considering an unusual mid-decade redistricting to keep the Republican Party’s hold on Congress, Ohio is an anomaly. If its congressional districts are not approved on a bipartisan basis, they are valid for only two general elections and can then be redrawn.
McGuire said California would go forward if Ohio does.
“The state of Ohio has made it clear that they are wanting to be able to proceed. They’re one of the few states in the United States of America that actually allow for … mid-decade redistricting,” he said. “We firmly believe that they should cool it, pull back, because if they do, so will California.”
Conclusion
The proposal to redraw California’s congressional districts has sparked a heated debate between Democrats and Republicans. While Democrats argue that the move is necessary to counter Trump’s efforts to increase GOP representation, Republicans accuse them of trying to subvert the will of the voters. The outcome of this proposal will have significant implications for the balance of power in Congress and the future of American politics.
FAQs
Q: What is the proposal to redraw California’s congressional districts about?
A: The proposal is to temporarily reconfigure the current congressional district boundaries to counter Trump’s efforts to increase GOP representation in Congress.
Q: Who is behind the proposal?
A: The proposal is supported by California Democrats, including Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic lawmakers.
Q: What are the implications of the proposal?
A: The proposal could lead to a change in the balance of power in Congress and have significant implications for American politics.
Q: How do Republicans respond to the proposal?
A: Republicans accuse Democrats of trying to subvert the will of the voters and have vowed to file multiple lawsuits to block the proposal.
Q: What is the timeline for the proposal?
A: The proposal will be voted on by state lawmakers this week, and if approved, Californians will vote on the ballot measure in a special election in November.
