California Dems tee up redistricting legislation with proposed maps

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — California Democrats on Friday revealed the proposed new congressional district maps they intend to put to the voters in November as a response to Texas’ moves toward giving Republicans an edge in the midterm election next year.

The new California maps are intended to favor Democrats in the 2026 election for the U.S. House of Representatives. Governor Gavin Newsom, who’s spearheading the effort, has said it’s a necessary maneuver to counter President Donald Trump’s attempts to have red states redraw their own congressional maps mid-decade.

“On Monday, I gave [Trump] a chance to back off on having his GOP lapdogs rig next year’s elections by further gerrymandering red states,” Newsom posted to X on Friday. “He instead chose personal power over our country. This November, California voters will be given the option to fight back.”

Some proposed changes appear stark. A new North State district would encompass cities like Redding, but also include a sliver of coastland that reaches the North Bay — adding a heavily populated blue area to a red, rural one.

U.S. Representative Doug LaMalfa, a Republican whose district roughly includes the northeast part of California, slammed the proposed maps on X.

“How on earth does Modoc County on the Nevada and Oregon border have any common interest with Marin County and the Golden Gate Bridge?” LaMalfa asked. “Voters took this power from Sacramento for just this reason. This is naked politics at its worst.”

The process to put the maps on the November ballot must move quickly, as the deadline is Aug. 22.

Democratic legislative leaders said the legislation needed to place the question on the ballot will be put into print on Monday. On Tuesday, each chamber’s election committee will examine it. The legislation will then proceed to the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, followed by an anticipated vote in both houses on Thursday.

A two-thirds’ vote is needed in the Legislature to put the question on the ballot.

“Trump sparked this national crisis when he called Texas to rig the election,” Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas said in a statement. “California is fighting back. Democrats are empowering voters to protect working families and our democracy — with the most transparent process in the nation. Voters will see the maps and have the final say.”

Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire said in a statement that the vote was about protecting reproductive rights and pushing back on job-killing tariffs.

“This is about more than drawing lines on a map, it’s about drawing a line in the sand to stop Texas and Trump from rigging the election,” McGuire said. “This is about protecting the people of the Golden State, our democracy and making sure voters have a say."

Critics have called out Democrats, as a successful November vote would set aside maps approved by an independent citizens redistricting commission. The new maps would remain in place through the 2030 election, after which the commission would return.

Democratic leaders have signaled that the new maps wouldn’t be in play if red states back down on their redistricting efforts.

Opponents to the measure on Friday chided Democrats over their claims of transparency. They pointed to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s announcement that it submitted proposed maps through an online public portal, arguing politicians drew them.

But Democrats lay the blame at Trump’s door, saying that he contacted Texas Governor Greg Abbott and asked for new maps that would draw an additional five GOP U.S. House members.

That led Newsom to push the idea of a special November election, giving California voters the choice of setting aside their citizens commission in favor of new maps. Newsom has said that Texas’ Legislature is reworking its congressional districts. California will let its people vote on the change.

“You’ve got to fight fire with fire,” Newsom said at a Thursday rally announcing his formal intent to call for an election. “This is a break-glass moment for our democracy.

“Wake up, America,” he added. “Wake up. You will have a president running for a third term.”