A draft of newly drawn proposed congressional districts in California were made public last week, part of a countermeasure to a gerrymandering effort in Texas to secure more Republican-held seats in the House of Representatives.
California’s new draft map was drawn to win five more U.S. House seats. The redrawn map would need voter approval for the modified districts to be in place for the pivotal 2026 mid-term election.
The nation’s two most populous states are at the forefront of a national battle over redistricting. President Trump is seeking to shore up a narrow House majority for Republicans and retain control of both chambers after the 2026 election. Redistricting in Texas remains stalled after Democratic leaders walked out for two weeks, but they plan to return for a special legislative session after California’s move to neutralize those possible gains.
In Texas and many other states, lawmakers have the power to redrawn district maps. In California, an independent voter-approved redistricting commission handles the job. Any changes to the process also requires votes approval. Last week in Los Angeles, Gov. Gavin Newsom called for a Nov. 4 special referendum on the redrawn districts.
Newsom urged Trump in a letter to abandon his scheme, telling the president he is “playing with fire” and “risking the destabilization of our democracy.”
If voters agree in November, the new map would replace the commission’s 2022 map. The new map would only take effect if Texas or another Republican-led state moves ahead with mid-decade redistricting and would remain through 2030.
After that, map-making would go back to the redistricting commission after the next census.
California Republicans vowed to legally challenge the effort.