California Democrat Lawmakers Approve Newsom-Backed Redistricting Map That Wipes Out Republican Districts

Despite the fact that California voters passed the Congressional Voters FIRST Act placing the drawing of the Congressional lines in the hands of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, California Democrat lawmakers voted to redistrict California so the are not represented — redrawing a total of 48 districts districts out of the 52 seats. The bill would create the MOST gerrymandered state in U.S. history.

Controversial because in 2010, California voters passed the Congressional Voters FIRST Act placing the drawing of the Congressional lines in the hands of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. New York Times: California leaders on Thursday approved a sweeping plan to elect more Democrats by redrawing congressional districts, delivering an immediate counterpunch to the gerrymandered map that Republicans in Texas are passing at the request of President Trump. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two redistricting bills that the Democratic-controlled Legislature sent to him earlier Thursday. He also declared a special election on Nov. 4 that will ask voters to grant final approval to the newly drawn congressional districts. The moves will immediately thrust California into a feverish campaign with national implications as Democrats and Republicans vie for control of the House of Representatives through an extraordinary effort to redraw political maps in the middle of a decade (New York Times).

California Republican Assemblyman Carl DeMaio: “Gavin Newsom’s corrupt redistricting scheme is worse than snake oil. It’s arsenic to our democracy” (DeMaio).

California Democrats approve Newsom-backed redistricting map to counter Texas

By: Fox News, August 22, 2025:

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a set of bills to allow voters to decide whether to overturn the preexisting congressional maps and the state’s independent redistricting commission, ushering in a new one with a more partisan bent.

The bills, sent to Newsom earlier on Thursday by the Democrat-dominated California legislature, are part of an effort in the blue state to nullify Texas’ new congressional map with one of their own.

The redistricting bills were passed by the California legislature along party-line votes in the state Assembly and Senate. The bills allow California voters to decide in a special election on Nov. 4 whether to allow the state to suspend its bipartisan redistricting commission and replace the current districts with a map drawn up by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

The bill was quickly signed by Newsom on Thursday. In a post celebrating the legislature passing the bills, Newsom said, “It’s official. California’s special election is ON for November 4th.”

Gavin Newsom’s proposal aims to ‘completely undo’ democracy, commentator says Video

“The People of California will be able to cast their vote for a Congressional map. Direct democracy that gives us a fighting chance to STOP Donald Trump’s election rigging,” wrote Newsom, adding, “Time to fight fire with fire.”

Speaking in a press conference on Thursday, Newsom accused Trump of being “one of the most unpopular presidents in U.S. history” and claimed “he recognizes he will lose the election, Congress will go back in the hands of the Democratic Party next November.”

Newsom’s push for a special session and new map was a call and response to President Donald Trump, Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Republicans, who crafted their own fresh map that passed the Texas House on Wednesday that gives the GOP five new, Republican-leaning districts.

The new maps are slated to turn five Republican districts into Democratic-leaning districts, as part of an effort to cancel out the changes made in Texas. Both states are engaging in a broader battle to gain control of the House pushed by Trump, who wants to buck the pendulum swing trend during off-cycle elections and maintain control of the lower chamber.

“This is about taking back our country,” Newsom told reporters on a press call Wednesday. “This is about the Democratic Party now punching back forcefully and very intentionally.”

Thursday’s legislative session comes on the heels of the California GOP’s attempt to halt the process by charging that they did not have their constitutionally granted 30 days to review the legislation, which was shot down by the California Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Ahead of the opening of the legislature, California Republicans gathered outside of the state house to slam Democrats’ move to change the maps.

“The governor says they’re fighting fire with fire,” Republican Leader James Gallagher said. “Well, the problem when you fight fire with fire is you burn it all down. And that’s what we’ve got going on right now.”