California’s Democrat-controlled legislature on Thursday formally approved a plan to redraw the state’s congressional lines, teeing up a special election this fall that will let Californians weigh in on mid-decade redistricting in response to a plan pushed by Texas Republicans.
Both the state Assembly and Senate approved three pieces of the “Election Rigging Response Act” legislative package, which include a proposed constitutional amendment and two separate bills that lay out the logistics for the special election and map proposal. Those bills now head to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) desk for approval.
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Democrats in the Golden State have been racing against the clock to get the package through by Friday in order to set up a Nov. 4 special election.
Unlike in Texas, where the GOP-controlled legislature and the governor’s approval will be enough to make the Lone Star State maps official, California ultimately has to put the question before voters.
Californians will be asked to greenlight plan that could give Democrats five additional House seats, effectively cancelling out the five would-be Republican gains in Texas, by going around the state’s independent redistricting commission until the end of the decade.
“This proposal would give Californians a choice to fight back — and bring much needed accountability and oversight to the Trump Administration,” Newsom said in a statement this week.
Newsom has pitched the plan as a way to “fight fire with fire” after President Trump pushed Texas to find five new GOP seats. He’s also underscored that the plan would be temporary, reverting back to the independent commission’s regular post-census redistricting schedule after the 2030 cycle.
Republicans, on the other hand, argue that the plan goes against the will of the voters, who approved the commission in 2008 and 2010. During hours of proceedings on Thursday, they also raised questions about who drew the maps and concerns about the cost of a special election.
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California GOP legislators earlier this week filed suit with a petition asking the state Supreme Court to block action on the legislation, arguing that the sprint to vote on the legislation package violated the state constitution. The state court rejected that petition on Wednesday, allowing the efforts to move forward in the Legislature.
California’s plan comes after talk of new maps in Texas kicked off a national redistricting tit-for-tat in the run-up to next year’s high-stakes midterms.
Republicans hold a slim 219-212 majority in the House, and control of Congress could come down to just a few seats.
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The GOP currently controls just nine of California’s 52 House slots. The Republican incumbents affected by the new map are Reps. Kevin Kiley (R), Doug LaMalfa (R), Darrell Issa (R), Ken Calvert (R) and David Valadao (R).
Redistricting has also been floated in the red states of Ohio, Florida, Indiana and Missouri — and in Democratic strongholds such as Maryland and Illinois.
Meanwhile, the Texas House advanced its redistricting plan on Wednesday. Now, both Houses have to reconcile the legislation before it kicks over to Gov. Greg Abbott (R) for approval.
“It’s on, Texas,” Newsom said on X Wednesday night.
