Changes to California’s redistricting process would allow lawmakers to redraw congressional districts in ways that would heavily favor Democrats, regardless of redistricting efforts in Texas or other GOP-led states, should voters approve the measure in November.
As first reported by KCRA, lawmakers took out language that tied California’s redistricting changes to whether Texas or another Republican-led state enacted new maps.
“This measure, which would include a legislative finding that it is in response to redistricting in Texas in 2025, would, notwithstanding the authority of the Citizens Redistricting Commission, require the state to temporarily use the congressional districts reflected in AB 604 of the 2025–26 Regular Session for every congressional election until the new congressional boundary lines are drawn by the commission in 2031,” the measure’s the bill’s text now reads.
The proposal is part of the broader Election Rigging Response Act, a legislative package that would override the state’s independent redistricting commission for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections.
“Yesterday, Texas moved forward with their Trump power grab, so this notion of ‘conditioning’ is no longer applicable — it is self-evident that California will need to move forward in response to what Texas has done,” a spokesperson from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said in a statement to KTLA. “Additionally, the removal of the language allows for a clearer, more simple description for voters this November.”
Newsom responded to reports about the language change on X, writing: “Texas acted. California will now respond. The trigger has been triggered.”
On Wednesday, the Texas House of Representatives approved a GOP-favored map that could flip five districts Republican. A day later, the California State Assembly passed its own map. Both measures now head to their respective state Senates.
The post Proposed Democratic maps in California drop ties to Texas, GOP states redistricting appeared first on KTLA.
