California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said Friday they were moving forward with plans to hold a special election in November for voters to approve a ballot measure that would ultimately allow Democrats to pass a new House map ahead of 2026.
“We have till Aug. 22. With the leadership behind me, they will get this on the ballot. We’re calling for a special election, that will be the first week of November,” Newsom said.
The governor — flanked by several California lawmakers, as well as Texas Democrats who fled their state — said they did not want to eliminate the independent redistricting commission in charge of drawing the map.
“We are talking about emergency measures to respond to what’s happening in Texas, and we will nullify what happens in Texas,” Newsom vowed.
The move comes in response to Texas Republicans who are looking to create five pickup opportunities in a new House map.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren, the chair of the California Democratic congressional delegation, said Democrats found they could create a new House map that would allow the party to pick up five additional seats next year while also not running afoul with the Voting Rights Act.
“So as we went through the details of the possibilities, I’m happy to report that every single member of the California delegation is willing to support a plan to do that,” she said of the state’s Democratic lawmakers.
California State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D) told reporters they anticipated that maps “will be available next week.”
“Once these maps are released, voters will have the opportunity to digest these maps, review them for weeks and months leading to this election,” he added.
California would be the first Democratic state to tangibly begin the process of trying to pass new lines ahead of 2026 in response to Texas. The Lone Star State, under pressure from President Trump, are vying to pick up five seats in their state as Republicans brace for a challenging midterm environment next year.
California currently uses an independent redistricting commission to draw its maps. Democrats’ aim, however, is to temporarily bypass the commission in response to what’s happening in Texas to pass their own congressional lines.
Newsom insisted Democrats supported independent redistricting but argued “we’re not going to unilaterally disarm in the state of California.”
The California governor said he is confident that the voters will pass the proposed ballot measure.
“We believe in independent redistricting, that will be on the ballot,” he said. “We believe it should be nationalized. That will be on the ballot. We have the opportunity to send a message ‘enough.’ And I believe Republicans, not just Democrats and independents, will meet that call, and we will overwhelmingly support this change.”
Updated at 6:48 p.m. EDT
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