Then Assemblywoman Gonzalez speaks at a rally at the Capitol in Sacramento. (File photo by Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press)
The California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO, has unanimously endorsed holding a special election this year to redraw the state’s congressional district boundaries, a move in response to Republican-led gerrymandering efforts in Texas.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said he will call a special election for the first week of November to let voters decide on a new congressional map unless Texas pauses its partisan redistricting plans.
That push comes as California Democrats announced they are weighing new political maps that could eliminate up to five Republican-held House seats in the state, including Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Escondido), while shoring up Democratic incumbents in key battleground districts.
“President Trump has said that Republicans are ‘entitled’ to five more congressional votes in Texas. Well, they aren’t entitled to steal the 2026 election. California’s unions refuse to stand by as democracy is tested,” said federation President Lorena Gonzalez, a former state Assemblymember based in San Diego.
“California Labor is unified in our resolve to fight back against President Trump’s anti-worker agenda,” Gonzalez said Wednesday.
The labor organization represents more than 2.3 million workers across 1,300 unions in industries including construction, health care, education, entertainment and logistics.
Gonzalez said the federation plans to mobilize its members to campaign for the redistricting effort.