House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) slammed California Democrats’ proposed House map on Monday, saying he’s taking measures to stop the new congressional lines from advancing.
“Democrats across the nation have played politics with redistricting for decades, and this is just the latest example. Republicans who are following state and federal laws will not be lectured by people who abused the system,” Johnson wrote in a statement on the social platform X.
“I have instructed the NRCC to use every measure and resource possible to fight the California Democrats’ illegal power grab,” he continued, referring to the House Republicans’ campaign arm. “I will continue to lead efforts to defend our House Republican incumbents and grow our majority so that we can continue to deliver on our commonsense, America First agenda.”
California Democrats proposed a new set of congressional lines on Friday, which aim to neutralize the gains Texas is expected to make with their new proposed House map.
Because the Golden State uses an independent redistricting commission to draw its House map, Democrats are looking to place the map before voters in a special election this November to get around the redistricting commission and do a mid-decade redrawing of their House maps.
The moves in California came in response to Texas, as the White House has pushed the Lone Star State and other GOP states to redraw their House maps ahead of 2026. Republicans are bracing for a challenging midterm environment and are looking to offset potential losses next year.
Unlike California, Texas only needs to pass new maps through the state legislature before it heads to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) for his signature.
Democrats have argued they need to do redistricting in response to Texas, saying their party has to fight fire with fire. Both parties have been criticized for taking the opportunity to redraw their House maps and both have been guilty of gerrymandering.
Johnson is not the only Republican who’s signaled he’s against California’s move. Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), who championed redistricting reform when he was in office, also indicated on X he was gearing up to fight the Golden State’s proposed map.
The Hill has reached out to a spokesperson for Newsom for comment.
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