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Proposed congressional maps released Friday could give Democrats a chance to flip as many as five Republican-held seats in California while reinforcing several vulnerable Democratic incumbents, setting up a fierce national battle over redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterms.
The draft maps, posted on the California State Assembly’s website, are expected to go before voters in a special election this fall after Gov. Gavin Newsom called for mid-decade redistricting in response to GOP-led changes in Texas. Lawmakers will begin formal consideration of the proposals next week, with potential revisions before the statewide ballot.
Background
California’s move comes just days after Texas Republicans advanced new maps that could tilt five Democratic-held seats toward the GOP. Newsom framed the special election as a counterweight to what he called partisan gerrymandering elsewhere.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the party’s campaign arm in the House, said it submitted the California proposal and predicted broad support.
“We anticipate this proposal will have widespread support both among California office holders and various stakeholders across the state,” DCCC Executive Director Julie Merz said Friday. “We will not stand by as Republicans attempt to rig the election in their favor … they know they can’t win on their disastrous legislative record.”
Legal and Political Arguments
Redistricting expert Paul Mitchell, who drew the proposed maps, told ABC News affiliate KGO-TV that eight districts remain unchanged while 20 see only minor adjustments. The plan, he said, balances partisan interests with stability.
“The goal was pushing back on Texas without doing something that would radically disrupt the congressional district lines,” Mitchell said. He added that beyond targeting five Republican seats, the plan would “strengthen the districts of around five Democratic frontline candidates” facing tough re-election battles.
Republican Response
Republicans quickly denounced the effort as a political stunt.
“Gavin Newsom failed to solve the homelessness, crime, drug, and cost epidemics plaguing the Golden State. Now he is shredding California’s Constitution and disenfranchising voters to prop up his Presidential ambitions,” said Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Hudson vowed the NRCC would “fight this illegal power grab in the courts and at the ballot box to stop Newsom in his tracks.”
Broader Context
Mid-decade redistricting is unusual in California, where boundaries are typically drawn once each decade by an independent citizens’ commission. Newsom’s push represents an aggressive use of state power to shape national politics, reflecting Democrats’ urgency to reclaim the House majority.
The fight also underscores the growing role of state-level maneuvers in the broader battle for congressional control, with both parties seeking to maximize their maps ahead of 2026.
Next Steps
The California legislature will refine the draft maps next week as part of a ballot measure package. If approved, voters will decide in the fall whether to adopt the new districts — a referendum that could shape the balance of power in Washington for years.
