Newsom Calls Special Election to Redistrict California Congress Seats—What to Know

On Aug. 14, California Gov. Gavin Newsom called for his state to hold a referendum to redraw the state’s congressional maps, marking an escalation in the ongoing, nationwide districting battles between Republicans and Democrats.

“We’re putting the maps on the ballot, and we’re giving the power to the people,” Newsom announced at an event in Los Angeles, saying that the vote would be held on Nov. 4.

The referendum would be a vote to approve a map to more heavily favor Democrats in California. Given Democrats’ political dominance in the Golden State, it’s likely to pass.

Newsom and other Democrats have portrayed the move as reactionary to the ongoing efforts in Texas to redraw its congressional borders in order to pick up around five seats in the House.

President Donald Trump has encouraged the move in Texas and elsewhere as one that could help him avoid the “six-year slump” that plagues many presidents during their second midterm elections in office.

Here’s what to know.

Overriding Independent Redistricting

In California, districting has historically been handled by a politically independent commission in line with a referendum approved by voters in 2008.

The commission is intended to minimize gerrymandering, the practice of drawing oddly shaped or unusual districts in order to guarantee a desired outcome.

Newsom’s plan would override the commission—a move that he said would be a temporary state of affairs.

“We will affirm our commitment to the state independent redistricting [committee] after the 2030 census, but we’re asking the voters for their consent to do midterm redistricting in 2026, 2028, and 2030 for the congressional maps to respond to what’s happening in Texas,” Newsom said during the Aug. 14 event.

The proposed referendum would occur the same day as a variety of municipal and other local elections.

Republicans, meanwhile, have criticized the plan for violating the California Constitution.

Christian Martinez, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said: “Newsom’s made it clear: He’ll shred California’s Constitution and trample over democracy—running a cynical, self-serving playbook where Californians are an afterthought and power is the only priority.”

Neama Rahmani, a lawyer who observes and commentates on national politics, told The Epoch Times that there’s really nothing stopping either party from redrawing their maps.

Speaking on the proposed ballot initiative, Rahmani said, “California is a heavily blue state throwing a lot of money at this. You can win any ballot initiative here.”

Texas

Newsom’s announcement comes as the Texas Legislature remains in gridlock after a majority of Texas Democrats fled the state on Aug. 3 to deny Republicans a quorum to move forward on redistricting.

The Democrats left after a state House committee advanced legislation to redraw the borders of the state’s congressional map—legislation that’s all but certain to pass once lawmakers have a quorum.

They mostly sought refuge in Illinois, where Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker vowed to protect them from extradition or other legal threats leveled by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Others fled to New York or California.

Paxton and Abbott have threatened a flurry of potential consequences if Democrats don’t return: arrest as soon as they return to the state, potential felony bribery charges, and the possibility of removal from office.

Abbott has indicated that he doesn’t intend to blink first in the standoff, saying he’ll continue calling as many special sessions as it takes to get a vote on the Trump-backed redistricting bill.

The Texas governor has defended the push to redraw his state’s congressional maps, saying that “Illinois … California, New York and Massachusetts, and so many other blue states” are already heavily gerrymandered.

Abbott has accused Democrats of gerrymandering in the past and said his state can go further than California when it comes to redistricting.

“Look at the map of Illinois. Look at the map they gerrymandered a long time ago. They got nothing left with regard to what they can do,” he said on CNN on Aug. 11. “And know this: If California tries to gerrymander, find more districts, listen, Texas has the ability to eliminate 10 Democrats in our state.”

Rahmani said that, as is the case in California, there’s ultimately nothing the minority party can do to prevent changes if they’re pursued.

Democrats’ flight from Texas, Rahmani said, is “delaying the inevitable.”

What’s Next?

While the outcome of both pushes remains unclear, there’s a possibility that other states will follow suit.

Aside from Texas, Republicans in the GOP-controlled states of Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Florida, and others are also considering bids to redraw their maps in favor of the GOP.

On the other side of the aisle, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Pritzker have mused on the possibility of redrawing their maps to more heavily favor Democrats.

Democrats say that any changes they make to their maps would be reactionary.

During an interview alongside New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Hochul said the phrase “fighting fire with fire” is “a true statement of how we’re feeling right now.”

“We’re already working on a legislative process, reviewing our legal strategies, and we’ll do everything in our power to stop this brazen assault,” she said.

Democratic leaders have pressed for the adoption of national standards to avoid an escalating tit-for-tat over congressional districting.

“We believe in a national independent redistricting framework, and we believe that’s the right goal and the right thing to pursue,” Newsom said, citing a federal bill from Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) that would have established such a commission.

The escalating political battle has already drawn some criticism from within Trump’s party.

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), a moderate in a purple New York district that could be drawn out of existence if New York moves forward with changes, has expressed reservations about his party’s push in Texas and elsewhere.

“I think it’s wrong, what Texas is doing,” he said on CNN. “I don’t support it.”

Jackson Richman contributed to this report.