In a bold political move, Democrats revealed a plan Friday that could give California an extra five U.S. House seats, aiming to strengthen their chances of controlling Congress next year.
The proposal suggests changing House district lines earlier than usual to give Democrats a bigger advantage in the state before the midterm elections. During these elections, Republicans will be trying to defend their slim House majority.
This move is seen as a response to Texas, where the GOP is trying to gain five more House seats with support from President Donald Trump, who is working to keep control of Congress and protect his conservative agenda.
Elections expert warns of ‘gerrymandering apocalypse’ ahead of 2026
If voters approve the plan in a November election, Democrats could nearly eliminate Republican representation in the nation’s most populous state. The plan aims to increase Democratic U.S. House seats in California from 43 to 48 out of 52.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released the proposal. California Democrats in the state Legislature will hold hearings and vote on the new maps next week.
“This is about more than drawing lines on a map. It’s about drawing a line in the sand to stop Texas and Trump from rigging the election,” said state Senate Democratic leader Mike McGuire.
New districts designed to favor Democrats
Normally, district lines try to keep communities with shared interests together. But the proposed maps would create oddly shaped districts to give Democrats a bigger advantage.
For example, the 1st Congressional District in northeast California, represented by Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa, currently has an 18-point GOP edge. The plan would give Democrats a 10-point edge by including parts of Democratic-leaning Sonoma County near the coast.
LaMalfa called the plan “absolutely ridiculous” in a post on X.
In the battleground 41st District east of Los Angeles, currently evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, Democratic registration would jump to 46%, while GOP registration would drop to 26%.
Other Republicans affected include Reps. Kevin Kiley in Northern California, David Valadao in the Central Valley, and Darrell Issa in San Diego County. Even some Democratic incumbents would see their districts gain more left-leaning voters.
Texas remains at stalemate in GOP seat push
The plan came as Texas Republicans started a second special session to approve new congressional maps. Their first session failed after Democrats staged a nearly two-week walkout.
Newsom promises to fight Trump
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state will hold a special referendum on the new districts on November 4.
“We can’t stand back and watch this democracy disappear district by district all across the country,” Newsom said.
This is the first time a state besides Texas officially stepped into Trump’s fight, though other leaders have threatened similar moves.
Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina, who leads the House GOP campaign arm, criticized Newsom, saying he is “shredding California’s Constitution and disenfranchising voters.”
The big question: How will voters react?
Democrats face the risk that voters may reject district lines drawn for political advantage. Some have already said they might sue. Republican former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who opposes partisan redistricting, said he will not support Democrats even after meeting Newsom. He posted a photo on Friday wearing a T-shirt reading, “Terminate gerrymandering.”
“I’m getting ready for the gerrymandering battle,” Schwarzenegger said.
What’s next in Texas?
Absent lawmakers plan to return to Austin once California Democrats take formal steps on their plan. Trump wants to avoid a repeat of the 2018 midterms, when Republicans lost control to Democrats.
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows criticized lawmakers who left Austin, accusing them of “following Gov. Newsom’s lead instead of the will of Texans.” He said he expects a quorum Monday and added, “Let’s be ready to work.”
The fight goes national
Trump has urged other Republican states to redraw maps, sending Vice President JD Vance to Indiana for pressure. In Missouri, the state Senate received a $46,000 invoice for six redistricting software licenses and staff training, according to The Associated Press.
Newsom encouraged other Democratic-led states to “stand up — not just California.”
House control could hinge on a few seats in 2026
Currently, Democrats are within three seats of a majority. Only a few dozen districts are competitive, so small changes in some states could affect which party controls the House.
New maps are usually drawn once a decade after the census, the last being in 2020. Many states, including Texas, let legislators draw the maps. California uses an independent commission.
If approved, the new California map would stay in effect through 2030. After that, Democrats say they would return mapmaking power to the independent commission approved by voters in 2008.
