Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has called a Nov. 4 special election to approve new congressional maps aimed at offsetting Republican redistricting gains in Texas. The “Election Rigging Response Act” would allow mid-decade redistricting in 2026, 2028, and 2030, before reaffirming California’s independent redistricting process after the next census.
Draft maps, expected Friday, reportedly target several GOP-held districts. According to a chart obtained by POLITICO, safe Republican seats such as those held by Reps. Doug LaMalfa, Kevin Kiley, Ken Calvert, and Darrell Issa would shift to safe or lean Democratic. Other Democratic districts would be fortified.
- CD-1, the rural northeastern corner of the state represented by Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa, transforms from safe Republican to safe Democratic
- CD-3, a sprawling district along California’s eastern border represented by GOP Rep. Kevin Kiley, goes from safe Republican to safe Democratic
- CD-9, Democratic Rep. Josh Harder’s northern Central Valley district, moves from lean Democratic to safe Democratic
- CD-13, a Central Valley seat narrowly won last year by Democratic Rep. Adam Gray, changes from lean Republican to safe Democratic
- CD-27, a northern Los Angeles County seat held by Democratic Rep. George Whitesides, moves from lean Democratic to safe Democratic
- CD-41, a battleground seat held by GOP Rep. Ken Calvert, transforms from safe Republican to safe Democratic
- CD-45, which Democratic Rep. Derek Tran won last year in the most expensive race in the country, goes from lean Democratic to safe Democratic
- CD-47, an Orange County district represented by Democratic Rep. Dave Min, moves from lean Democratic to safe Democratic
- CD-48, which spans Riverside and San Diego counties and is held by GOP Rep. Darrell Issa, changes from safe Republican to lean Democratic.
Newsom said the plan is a direct response to Texas Republicans’ proposed map, which could net the GOP five more House seats. “We anticipate that these maps will completely neuter and neutralize what is happening in Texas,” he said.
California Republicans condemned the move as a power grab from the state’s Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, citing polling that shows bipartisan support for keeping the commission in charge.
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