Map Shows Democratic Plan for New California Districts

Newsweek

10 hours ago

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California Democrats have unveiled a proposed congressional map that would reshape political boundaries across the state and could give their party up to five new seats.
"Earlier today, the DCCC submitted a proposed congressional map to the legislative public portal with collaborative input from stakeholders and legislators. We anticipate this proposal will have widespread support both among California office holders and various stakeholders across the state," Julie Merz, the executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said in a statement on Friday.
"We will not stand by as Republicans attempt to rig the election in their favor and choose their voters. It's increasingly clear that Republicans will do anything to protect their narrow majority because they know they can't win on their disastrous legislative record which has raised costs and rips away health care for millions, all to give the ultra-wealthy a tax break," she continued.
Why It Matters
Redistricting, usually done once a decade after the Census, is being pushed mid-cycle in response to President Donald Trump's call for Texas to send "five more Republicans" to Congress. Trump urged Texas Republicans to redo the state's districts to help the party. Democrats, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, say they are "fighting fire with fire" by proposing new districts that could benefit their party.
The move could reshape the 2026 midterms, where Democrats are hoping to retake the House and Senate.
What To Know
The proposed California redistricting plan targets five Republican representatives: Doug LaMalfa (District 1), Kevin Kiley (District 3), David Valadao (District 22), Ken Calvert (District 41) and Darrell Issa (District 48).
LaMalfa's rural district would lose many Republican voters and extend west to more Democratic coastal areas.
"If you want to know what's wrong with these maps—just take a look at them," LaMalfa wrote on X on Friday. "How on earth does Modoc County on the Nevada and Oregon Border have any common interest with Marin County and the Golden Gate Bridge? Voters took this power from Sacramento for just this reason. This is naked politics at its worst."
Kiley's redrawn district would add Democratic-leaning Sacramento County and cut out much of the Eastern Sierra.
"Make no mistake, I will win reelection to the House regardless of the proposed changes to my district," he said in a news release. "I fully expect that the beautiful 3rd District will remain exactly as it is. We will defeat Newsom's sham initiative and vindicate the will of California voters."
Kiley has opposed gerrymandering, introducing legislation to block mid-decade redistricting.
Meanwhile, Democratic Representative Ami Bera, who represents California's 6th congressional district, is weighing options to continue representing Sacramento, possibly by running in District 3.
A redistricting map of California that Democrats have submitted.
A redistricting map of California that Democrats have submitted.
California State Assembly
"I have had the honor of representing the Sacramento region in Congress since 2013. I intend to continue representing the Sacramento region in the next Congress," Bera said in a statement posted on X. "Right now, we must stop Donald Trump and Texas Republicans from gerrymandering their way to a House majority in 2026. I look forward to supporting this ballot initiative to level the playing field and fight back against Donald Trump's destructive agenda."
Newsom said he would call a special election on November 4 to let Californians decide whether to adopt new congressional districts, a move that would bypass the state's independent redistricting commission. He said the proposal included a trigger clause, meaning it would take effect only if Texas or another Republican-led state advanced its own redistricting plan.
California Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher criticized the proposed redistricting plan, calling the maps "rigged" and drawn "in secret to give Democrat politicians more power by dismantling the independent commission Californians created."
He argued that the plan discarded years of public input, saying, "These maps shred the fair, transparent process voters demanded" and amount to "a rigged scheme cooked up behind closed doors."
Gallagher accused Democrats of rushing the plan to meet a deadline, saddling taxpayers with a November special election and leaving "no real opportunity for public input." He added: "This is a mockery of democracy. If they can neuter the commission here, they can neuter it anywhere. Californians should choose their representatives, not the other way around."
Newsom has also received criticism from Democrats.
Jeanne Raya, a former Democratic member of the commission, voiced concern about transparency. "Somebody's going to be drawing maps, whether behind a real door, a virtual door," she said. "There will not be that transparency that is written into the independent commission's work and voters will suffer for that."
Several good-government groups also oppose the governor's proposal, arguing that it politicizes redistricting and undermines the independent commission.
Newsom defended the plan, saying it remained transparent because voters would have the final say. Unlike California's proposal, he said, the Texas plan would not go before voters.
"We are talking about emergency measures to respond to what's happening in Texas and we will nullify what happens in Texas," Newsom said at a news conference alongside Texas Democrats. "We will pick up five seats with the consent of the people and that is the difference between the approach we're taking and the approach [Texas Republicans are] taking."
Other Democratic-led states, such as New York and Illinois, are weighing new redistricting efforts but face legal obstacles or limited opportunities to gain seats. Meanwhile, Republican strongholds such as Ohio, Indiana, Florida and Missouri are seen as having greater potential to expand their representation through redistricting.
What People Are Saying
Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote on X on Friday: "I'm getting ready for the gerrymandering battle."
California Governor Gavin Newsom said during a news conference earlier this month: "We have the opportunity to de facto end the Trump presidency in less than 18 months. That's what's at stake."
Julie Merz, the executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee: "We applaud Governor Newsom and legislative leaders for their commitment to put this measure in front of voters, which not only levels the playing field against corrupt Republican efforts in Texas, but also reaffirms Democrats' commitment to redistricting reform and the use of fair, nonpartisan redistricting commissions nationwide."
What Happens Next
If lawmakers finish the plan by August 22, California voters will decide on November 4 whether to approve maps that would apply in 2026, 2028 and 2030—contingent on Republican-led states redrawing their lines first. Since 2010, California's maps have been drawn by an independent citizen commission.