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Democrats release new California map that targets five GOP districts

By Annabella Rosciglione August 15, 2025 | updated 14 hours ago

Democrats released a congressional map for California on Friday that could give them five more districts more favorable to Democrats.

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) has been pushing to redistrict California as President Donald Trump demanded Texas Republicans redraw the state’s map mid-decade in an effort to hold on to the GOP’s razor-thin House majority. 

California, as the most populous state, has the largest congressional delegation. Democrats currently hold 43 of the state’s 52 House seats, and the new map could give Democrats a 48-4 advantage.

The proposed map would, in theory, cancel out any successful effort in Texas as Texas Republicans look to add five more GOP seats. 

“We anticipate these maps will completely neuter and neutralize what is happening in Texas,” Newsom said Thursday, adding he will only pursue the redistricting route if Republican-led states do the same. “There’s still an exit ramp.”

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released the proposed map, which will be introduced in the California state legislature on Monday.

“We will not stand by as Republicans attempt to rig the election in their favor and choose their voters,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Executive Director Julie Merz said in a statement. “It’s increasingly clear that Republicans will do anything to protect their narrow majority because they know they can’t win on their disastrous legislative record, which has raised costs and rips away healthcare for millions, all to give the ultra-wealthy a tax break.”

According to the map, the districts currently held by Republican Reps. Ken Calvert, Kevin Kiley, and Doug LaMalfa would move from safe Republican districts to safe Democratic districts. Rep. David Valadao could also see more Democratic challengers in his close swing district, while Rep. Darrell Issa’s district moves from safe Republican to lean Democratic.

The proposed map would also strengthen Democrats’ hold over four toss-up seats currently held by Democrats, according to Politico.

The California constitution, however, requires a nonpartisan commission to draw its House seats. Newsom has said he and state lawmakers will put a ballot question to voters in a Nov. 4 special election to suspend that requirement for the next three federal elections. The independent commission would return after the 2030 census.

REDISTRICTING WARS THREATEN TO MAKE CONGRESS MORE PARTISAN

Texas Democratic lawmakers left the state earlier this month to deny Texas Republicans a quorum to vote on a new congressional map that would favor the GOP even more. 

Texas Republicans ended their special session Friday and called a new one hours later. The state legislature was forced to adjourn after failing to meet the minimum attendance threshold.

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