California Democrats are gearing up to redraw congressional district lines, a move that could jeopardize the narrow Republican majority in the House of Representatives. This plan comes in response to Texas Republicans’ efforts to gain more congressional seats through redistricting, as Texas Governor Greg Abbott has called for a special legislative session to discuss the issue.
California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom expressed concerns about Texas saying, “They’re playing by a different set of rules.” On Wednesday, members of California’s Democratic congressional delegation met with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to brainstorm strategies for gaining additional seats and potentially regaining control of the House.
The push for redistricting is complicated by California’s 2010 Proposition 20, which established an independent commission to handle district lines. Newsom sees two possible approaches to work around this. One option would involve calling a special legislative session to allow voters to either pause the commission’s work or take away its redistricting authority. However, this would require a special election, which could be costly. To win over some Republican voters, the proposal might include a popular measure like implementing voter ID requirements.
The second option would be to redraw the districts on the grounds that California’s constitution does not explicitly prohibit mid-decade redistricting. This strategy could lead to legal challenges, as Newsom himself acknowledged that it raises “a novel legal question.” Additionally, the Voting Rights Act poses a significant challenge, as it protects districts with majority Latino populations from being altered in ways that could threaten their demographic makeup.
Democrats are reportedly eyeing several Republican-held districts for potential changes, including those of Representatives Ken Calvert, Kevin Kiley, Darrell Issa, Young Kim, David Valadao, and Doug LaMalfa. Rep. Mark Takano, who hopes to chair the House Veterans Affairs Committee if Democrats regain control, stated, “We want our gavels back. That’s what this is about.”
This isn’t the first time California Democrats have tried to influence redistricting. In 2011, they worked behind the scenes to affect the independent commission’s decisions, enlisting local voters and community groups to advocate for district configurations favorable to the party without revealing their connections.
As the political landscape shifts, how California Democrats proceed with redistricting could have significant implications for the balance of power in Congress.