Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday signed legislation calling a Nov. 4 special election that will let Californians decide whether lawmakers should temporarily take control of drawing the state’s congressional maps that would heavily favor Democrats.
Newsom confirmed the news in a post on X.
The proposal, called the Election Rigging Response Act, would override the state’s independent redistricting commission for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections. The commission, created by voters through ballot measures in 2008 and 2010, was designed to remove politics from the process, which is typically conducted every 10 years using U.S. Census data.
Under the plan, the commission would remain in law but lose authority.
Supporters say the measure is needed to counter partisan gerrymandering in GOP-led states. Opponents, however, argue it amounts to gerrymandering itself, returning power to politicians after voters had deliberately removed it.
The proposal has drawn opposition from the League of Women Voters, former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Republican lawmakers. A campaign called Protect Voters First, backed in part by philanthropist Charles Munger Jr., has launched a website urging voters to reject the measure.
The measure comes in response to Texas, which continues to advance a GOP-favored map that could flip five districts Republican.
Californians can view the proposed maps here.
The post Newsom signs bill putting redistricting measure before voters in November appeared first on KTLA.
