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(TEXAS TRIBUNE) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom has told aides he will move forward with a plan to redraw his state’s congressional lines to install more Democrats if Texas Republicans pass their own updated map, according to a person with direct knowledge of Newsom’s thinking.
The Texas proposal, backed by President Donald Trump, looks to flip five seats held by Democrats, according to a draft unveiled Wednesday in the state House. The California proposal would aim to do the same, with lawmakers set to advance a map targeting five Republican incumbents, according to two people who have spoken to Newsom or his office about it. They were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the private conversations.
Map makers are looking at options that would target Republican Reps. Ken Calvert, Darrell Issa, Kevin Kiley, Doug LaMalfa and David Valadao, according to a person associated with Newsom’s redistricting efforts.
Once approved by the Democratic-controlled California Legislature, where Newsom has been successfully lobbying lawmakers for weeks, the maps would likely be put to California voters in a statewide ballot measure. The referendum plan is subject to change and has yet to receive final approval from Newsom, who has also publicly suggested the Legislature could change the maps without voter approval.
California has an independent redistricting commission that was enshrined in the state’s constitution. But those close to the process believe maps passed by way of a ballot measure or the Legislature’s approval would withstand legal scrutiny because the independent commission is only tasked with drawing new lines once every decade — leaving the process for mid-decade redistricting open, supporters argue.
This is not a new idea. Representatives for Newsom and key House Democrats have been meeting for weeks to discuss possible Democratic responses to Texas’ redistricting plan, The Texas Tribune previously reported.
California members of Congress met with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffires about redistricting earlier this month. Many of the Democrats in the state’s congressional delegation have signaled their support for a retaliatory round of map-drawing, The Texas Tribune previously reported. Jeffries is scheduled to meet with Democratic state lawmakers from Texas later Wednesday.
The California plan has caught the attention of the White House, with Vice President JD Vance calling the state’s current congressional maps an “outrageous” gerrymander. If the five-seat plan passes in Sacramento and is successful in flipping seats, it would give the Democrats a striking 48-4 advantage in their congressional delegation.
