California lawmakers approve special election on new congressional maps
California approves redistricting plan
California will vote in November on whether to approve a new congressional district map that would likely give Democrats five more seats in Congress.
LOS ANGELES - A national political battle over redistricting is escalating as California lawmakers approved a special election that will be held Nov. 4 for voters to decide on the newly proposed congressional maps.
Lawmakers voted mostly along party lines after hours of debate. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the legislation Thursday evening.
The plan is aimed at Democrats adding five more US House seats in the 2026 election.
Republicans, who have filed a lawsuit and called for a federal investigation into the plan, promised to keep fighting to stop it.
The legislation is a response by Democrats seeking to neutralize Texas Republicans’ push to adopt a new congressional map favoring the GOP at the urging of President Donald Trump. California’s vote comes a day after the Texas House approved a map to create five more winnable districts for Republicans.
Voters will have the ultimate say on the maps during a November 4 special election.
California relies on an independent commission that is supposed to be nonpartisan and would need permission from voters to implement the new map. If approved, the map would replace the existing one through 2030. Then the commission would take back mapmaking power after the next census.
‘We got here because of his failed policies,’ Newsom says
What they're saying:
Newsom quickly approved the bill following a press conference Thursday.
He said this would be the first time in US history that voters would get to decide on the congressional districts.
"Open your eyes to what is going on in the United States of America in 2025. That's what this is about. We're responding to what occurred in Texas, we're neutralizing what occurred. And we're giving the American people a fair chance because when all things are equal, we're all playing by the same set of rules, there's no question that the Republican Party will be the minority party in the House of Representatives next year," Gov. Newsom said during Thursday's press conference.
Newsom parodies Trump's executive order signing
Governor Gavin Newsom parodied President Donald Trump's signature (no pun intended) gesture of signing an executive order in front of the cameras.
Newsom said California wouldn't be redrawing its map if Trump and Texas didn't take the first shot in doing so.
"We got here because the President of the United States is struggling. We got here because the President of the United States is one of the most unpopular presidents in U.S. history. We got here because he recognizes that he will lose the election. Congress will go back into the hands of the Democratic Party next November. We got here because of his failed policies," Newsom stated.
Big picture view:
The national redistricting battle is intensifying, with both political parties seeking to gain an advantage ahead of the midterm elections.
The GOP, which holds the house by a slim margin, is pushing to create more conservative-leaning seats in states like Texas, Indiana, and Missouri.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: California Supreme Court to let Democrats move forward with redistricting
This strategy is led by President Donald Trump. In response, Democrats are considering similar moves in states like Maryland and New York to counter the Republican efforts.
The GOP often has a freer hand in redrawing maps because fewer Republican-run states have independent redistricting commissions or other legal limits.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Redistricting California: Newly proposed congressional maps released
Texas approves new maps
Dig deeper:
Meanwhile, in Texas, the house approved a new map in an 88-52 party-line vote after more than eight hours of debate.
This came after outnumbered democratic lawmakers delayed the vote by fleeing the state for 15 days in protest.
Upon their return, they were placed under round-the-clock police monitoring.
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House Speaker Dustin Burrows announced that chamber doors would be locked during the vote, and the Democrats also face a fine of $500 for every day they were absent.
Texas Democrats have vowed to challenge the new map in court.
What they're saying:
Newsom called his strategy a necessary step to counter Republican efforts in other states, stating, "this is a new Democratic party, this is a new day, this is new energy out there all across this country. And we’re going to fight fire with fire."
Former President Barack Obama has backed Newsom’s plan, saying, "I think that approach is a smart, measured approach."
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Newsom unveils plan for redistricting California
Texas Republicans have openly stated their actions are in the party’s interest.
State Rep. Todd Hunter noted that the U.S. Supreme court has allowed politicians to redraw districts for partisan purposes.
The Source: This report is based on official statements from California Governor Gavin Newsom and former President Barack Obama, as well as comments from Texas State Representative Todd Hunter and others involved in the debate. Information on the legislative processes in both states comes from public records of their respective state governments, including the Texas House of Representatives vote count and details on California's independent redistricting commission. The Associated Press contributed to this report.