Democratic state lawmakers formally introduced legislation on Monday to establish a new California congressional map and bypass the state’s independent redistricting rules.
The bills would ask voters to suspend the independent redistricting commission until after the 2030 census and approve a new congressional map for that timeframe. The new map could yield five new seats for Democrats in the 2026 midterms.
It targets five Republican representatives – Kevin Kiley, Doug LaMalfa, David Valadao, Darrell Issa and Ken Calvert – who now face bluer districts. Democrats currently control 43 of California's 52 seats.
The proposal is in response to a GOP-led redistricting plan in Texas that could result in five new Republican seats. Texas lawmakers are expected to pass that proposal this week.
Democratic Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas said the Texas plan left California Democrats no choice.
“As Californians we have a message, we have had enough of this nonsense and we are not going to let these abuses of power go unchallenged any longer,” Rivas said at a press conference on August 18.
Democrats in California’s state legislature and congressional delegation have pushed back on President Donald Trump’s national policies, including cuts to Medicaid and nutritional programs, saying they are largely unpopular. They’ve said taking control of the U.S. House is the best way to stop Trump’s agenda, and that their redistricting plans will help ensure that happens.
“President Trump knows that his reckless policies are gonna come back to haunt him in the midterms, we see the same damn polling that he sees, and here’s what we know, he has to cheat to win,” said Democratic Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire.
Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire speaks at a press conference where Democrats formally announced redistricting legislation, August 18, 2025.Gerardo Zavala/CapRadio
Republicans oppose the Democrats’ bills. They say the new congressional map wasn’t drawn or negotiated in a public forum and argue the state shouldn’t sideline the independent citizens redistricting commission.
Republican state lawmakers argued that California’s system of citizen-led redistricting has been a model for the nation, something Democrats have asserted as well. It was established by voters in 2008 and voters in 2010 gave it the authority to draw congressional districts. It includes five Democrats, five Republicans and four members not affiliated with either party.
San Diego-area Assembly Member Carl DeMaio reminded voters why they created the commission in the first place.
“Two wrongs don’t make a right,” he emphasized.” California is doing redistricting right. The citizens seized back control of the power from the politicians in 2010.”
Democrats argue that the move would be temporary, with the state returning map-drawing power to the commission in 2030. Republican State Senator Tony Strickland of Huntington Beach says there’s no way to guarantee that will happen.
“Governor Gavin Newsom earlier today said he's going to save democracy,” he said. “But he's saving democracy by having no more democratic elections in California.”
North State Assemblymember James Gallagher says his party is taking the fight beyond the state legislature.
“We don’t believe that gerrymandering should be happening anywhere,” he stressed. “In fact, Republicans today are introducing resolutions that call on Congress to make sure that every state in the nation has independent redistricting processes.”
In response to criticisms, Democrats say their proposal is more transparent than the Texas plan because voters will ultimately decide.
“No secret backroom deals, Californians get the final say,” said Assembly Democratic Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry of Winters.
The bills would have to be approved by two-thirds of lawmakers this week to make it on the November 4th ballot. They’re expected to vote on them Thursday.
CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you. As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.
Donate Today
