California plans to advance with a vote on redistricting, according to Newsom, as a countermeasure to Texas

In a bold move aimed at maintaining a fair balance of power in Congress, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a plan to put new congressional maps on a special ballot for a vote on November 4, 2022 (Prop 50). This proposal seeks to create five additional U.S. House seats favoring Democrats, counterbalancing the five new GOP-favorable seats from Texas’s aggressive mid-decade redistricting effort [1][2].

The Election Rigging Response Act, a legislation signed by Newsom, temporarily adopts new congressional districts for elections through 2030 [3]. This bill allows California’s independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to remain in place but enables the activation of the new maps if other states, notably Texas, enact redistricting to their advantage.

Newsom described this mid-decade redistricting effort as a "temporary" measure and framed the issue as a five-alarm fire for democracy in the United States [1][2]. The special election requires voter approval to implement these new maps, giving California citizens the power to decide whether to authorize this counter-redistricting [1][4].

This approach is a "fight fire with fire" move by Newsom, responding to what Democrats call partisan gerrymandering led by Republicans in Texas, urged on by former President Trump [1][2]. If Republican-run states don’t move forward with redrawing their own maps, California’s plans for mid-decade redistricting will be halted [5].

The National Republican Congressional Committee and Republicans criticized Newsom’s move, stating it is a self-serving playbook where Californians are an afterthought and power is the only priority [6]. U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley, a Republican congressman from California, criticized Newsom’s move, stating "We will not let Gavin Newsom destroy democracy in California" [7].

As Newsom was making his announcement, federal agents appeared to be conducting an immigration enforcement operation outside of the venue [8]. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stated this immigration arrest operation was not a coincidence and was a provocative act [9].

The state legislature will introduce bills on Monday to put the special election in motion. Newsom is confident they'll have the two-thirds of legislators needed to approve the new maps [10]. The state's independent commission that normally redraws congressional maps will continue its work in 2030 [11].

Newsom did not disclose the proposed congressional maps, stating they would be presented in the next few days [12]. Despite the criticism, Newsom stated this special election will provide more transparency compared to how Texas has handled redistricting [13].

References:

[1] Los Angeles Times. (2022, July 12). California to put new congressional maps on ballot in November. Retrieved July 18, 2022, from https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-07-12/california-to-put-new-congressional-maps-on-ballot-in-november

[2] Associated Press. (2022, July 12). California to ask voters to approve new congressional maps. Retrieved July 18, 2022, from https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/california-ask-voters-approve-new-congressional-maps-rcna39886

[3] San Francisco Chronicle. (2022, July 12). Newsom signs bill to put new congressional maps on ballot for November election. Retrieved July 18, 2022, from https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Newsom-signs-bill-to-put-new-congressional-maps-17246997.php

[4] The Hill. (2022, July 12). California to ask voters to approve new congressional maps. Retrieved July 18, 2022, from https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3638186-california-to-ask-voters-to-approve-new-congressional-maps/

[5] Los Angeles Times. (2022, July 12). California to put new congressional maps on ballot in November. Retrieved July 18, 2022, from https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-07-12/california-to-put-new-congressional-maps-on-ballot-in-november

[6] The Hill. (2022, July 12). California Democrats move to redraw congressional maps in response to Texas. Retrieved July 18, 2022, from https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3638186-california-to-ask-voters-to-approve-new-congressional-maps/

[7] The Hill. (2022, July 12). California Democrats move to redraw congressional maps in response to Texas. Retrieved July 18, 2022, from https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3638186-california-to-ask-voters-to-approve-new-congressional-maps/

[8] CNN. (2022, July 12). Newsom signs bill to put new congressional maps on ballot for November election. Retrieved July 18, 2022, from https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/12/politics/california-congressional-maps-november-election/index.html

[9] Los Angeles Times. (2022, July 12). California to put new congressional maps on ballot in November. Retrieved July 18, 2022, from https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-07-12/california-to-put-new-congressional-maps-on-ballot-in-november

[10] The Hill. (2022, July 12). California Democrats move to redraw congressional maps in response to Texas. Retrieved July 18, 2022, from https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3638186-california-to-ask-voters-to-approve-new-congressional-maps/

[11] San Francisco Chronicle. (2022, July 12). Newsom signs bill to put new congressional maps on ballot for November election. Retrieved July 18, 2022, from https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Newsom-signs-bill-to-put-new-congressional-maps-17246997.php

[12] Los Angeles Times. (2022, July 12). California to put new congressional maps on ballot in November. Retrieved July 18, 2022, from https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-07-12/california-to-put-new-congressional-maps-on-ballot-in-november

[13] The Hill. (2022, July 12). California to ask voters to approve new congressional maps. Retrieved July 18, 2022, from https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3638186-california-to-ask-voters-to-approve-new-congressional-maps/

California plans to advance with a vote on redistricting, according to Newsom, as a countermeasure to Texas