Democrats release new California map that targets five GOP districts – Washington Examiner
Democrats in California have released a new congressional map aimed at gaining five additional districts favorable to their party. Governor Gavin Newsom supports this redistricting effort, paralleling recent moves by Texas Republicans who redrew their map mid-decade to try to maintain a narrow GOP House majority. Currently, Democrats hold 43 of California’s 52 House seats, and the proposed map could increase that to a 48-4 advantage. The plan targets several Republican-held districts, perhaps turning safe Republican seats into Democratic ones, and strengthening Democratic control over competitive districts.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) supports the map, emphasizing that Republicans are attempting to rig elections through partisan redistricting. Governor Newsom plans to propose suspending California’s nonpartisan redistricting commission for the next three federal elections,via a ballot measure in a special election this November,to allow this politically motivated map. This effort is seen as a countermeasure to partisan gerrymandering efforts in other states, especially Texas, where Democrats have taken steps to block Republican-favored redistricting.
this move reflects the growing partisan battles over redistricting, which threaten to increase political polarization and influence control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Democrats release new California map that targets five GOP districts
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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