Democrats release proposed new California congressional map

Democrats on Friday released a proposed new California congressional map as they aim to counter Republican-led redistricting efforts in Texas. 

The proposal was submitted to the state legislature on behalf of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and comes as the latest development in an intensifying redistricting fight.

“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,” executive director Julie Merz said in a release.

“We will not stand by as Republicans attempt to rig the election in their favor and choose their voters.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is vying to hold a special election this fall on a ballot measure that would suspend the state’s independent redistricting commission until the end of the decade in an effort to keep up with Republican gerrymandering. 

Newsom has stressed that bypassing the commission, which Californians approved back in 2008 and 2010, would be temporary, and that redrawing the lines would only be triggered by redistricting in red states. 

Democrats in the California legislature are expected to move the measure forward when they reconvene next week, teeing up a November special election.

The proposed maps are expected to effectively neutralize the would-be gains in Texas, where a plan backed by President Trump could net five GOP House seats, by creating five blue districts in California. The Republican incumbents effected by the new map are Reps. Kevin Kiley (R), Doug LaMalfa (R), Darrell Issa (R), Ken Calvert (R) and David Valadao (R).

“They do five seats, we do five seats,” Newsom has said.

Democrats in the Texas state legislature fled earlier this month in a desperate bid to stall the GOP plan from moving forward, but they’ve signaled they could return if, among other conditions, California introduced its maps to counter the Lone Star State.

“I love my current congressional district, but I understand the stakes. Democracy is on the line,” Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) said on X as news of the map broke.

“When this new map is approved by voters, I look forward to running in the new 42nd district, made up of my hometown of Long Beach, coastal OC, Costa Mesa & South Santa Ana. Let’s go!”

The National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC) backed the maps, calling California’s plan a “measured response” to counteract Trump’s “blatant power grab in Texas.

The Republicans’ congressional campaign arm blasted the redistricting moves on Friday, arguing Newsom “is shredding California’s Constitution and disenfranchising voters to prop up his Presidential ambitions.”

“The NRCC is prepared to fight this illegal power grab in the courts and at the ballot box to stop Newsom in his tracks,” said chairman Richard Hudson.