California lawmakers on the brink of calling redistricting special election

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — California Republicans pushed for answers on Wednesday about the financial details of a proposed special November election to redraw the state’s congressional map.

Members of the state’s minority party appeared to get little consolation in the answers they got — three bills that will put the measure on the ballot easily passed key committees that day, advancing to an anticipated Thursday floor vote.

Golden State Democrats have said the special election is needed to counter President Donald Trump’s attempt to have Texas redraw its maps to give Republicans another five congressional seats.

While Texas legislators are redrawing their state’s maps, California Democrats say voters will decide if they want to set aside the state’s independent citizens redistricting commission through 2030 in favor of new maps that favor their party.

“To be clear, this is a fight we have not sought out,” said Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, a Los Angeles Democrat, as he spoke about Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8 before his chamber’s Appropriations Committee on Wednesday.

Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8 would put the issue before voters on Nov. 4. Senate Bill 280 makes timelines and procedures, as well as allocates money for it. Assembly Bill 604 is the vehicle for the new maps.

The constitutional amendment and SB 280 passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Wednesday. Assembly Bill 604 passed Senate Appropriations the same day. All three bills now head to their respective house floors for an anticipated Thursday vote. Governor Gavin Newsom will likely sign the bills, as he’s championed the special election.

The bills must pass by Friday for the election to occur in November.

Republicans have pushed back on the effort, filing a petition Tuesday for an emergency ruling by the state Supreme Court over a 30-day public review period they say Democrats have discarded. The high court rejected it Wednesday, saying the Republicans had failed to meet their burden.

“Today’s Supreme Court decision is not the end of this fight,” the Republican petitioners said in a statement. “Although the court denied our petition, it did not explain the reason for its ruling. This means Governor Newsom and the Democrats’ plan to gut the voter-created citizens redistricting commission, silence public input, and stick taxpayers with a $200+ million bill will proceed.”

In the appropriations committees, Republicans questioned the reason for setting aside the independent redistricting commission in favor of politics. They also wanted to know the cost and when local elections officials would receive funds to conduct the election.

Assemblymember Diane Dixon, a Newport Beach Republican, said the election will cost at least $230 million. She argued that money could go toward organizations like Planned Parenthood, which has said it’s lost funding because of Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill.

“Two hundred and thirty million dollars is nothing to blink your eye at,” she said.

Assemblymember David Tangipa, a Clovis Republican, questioned the source of the funding for the election. He noted that the state Legislative Analyst’s Office has indicated California likely will face future deficits in the tens of billions of dollars.

The Department of Finance said local elections offices will receive reimbursement from the state’s general fund. However, a precise cost for the election isn’t yet known.

Tangipa also hammered Bryan on the source of the maps voters will choose and who paid the people who drew them.

Bryan said a collaboration of many stakeholders, including people who have drawn maps for multiple jurisdictions, drew the congressional maps. He added that the group considered thousands of comments when creating the maps, which only differ from the existing districts by 20%.

“The people of California will draw this map,” Bryan said.

Bryan argued that California must push back against the power grab Texas is attempting. He also lambasted what he called the hypocrisy of Republicans. He pointed to Trump’s $1 billion settlement offer to UCLA after the federal government cut funding to the college over pro-Palestinian protests.

The Los Angeles Assembly member called that extortion, adding that Republicans have said nothing about it.

“The cost to our democracy is what we are talking about right now,” said Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, an Oakland Democrat and chair of her chamber’s appropriations committee. “Our hand is being forced and we will not unilaterally disarm.”