LOS ANGELES 鈥� Democrats who lead the California Legislature on Friday unveiled a map proposing new boundaries for U.S. House districts that would substantially change five Republican-held seats, making them more likely to be won by Democrats next year.
The gerrymandered map, drawn by Democratic lawmakers expressly to help their party flip seats, is an attempt to offset the gains Republicans hope to make with maps Texas lawmakers have drafted at the request of President Donald Trump.
The proposed California map is the latest development in an extraordinary race to change congressional districts ahead of the midterm elections. That race, which began in Texas, is now spreading across the country: Indiana, Missouri and Ohio may consider changing their district boundaries to gain Republican seats; New York and Illinois have discussed altering maps to benefit Democrats, though changes in those states face greater hurdles. The ultimate goal for each party is to control the House during the second half of Trump鈥檚 term.
Typically, states draw new congressional maps at the start of each decade following the census to adjust for population changes. But Trump鈥檚 request that Texas create five new Republican seats to help the party maintain its slim majority has upended the normal redistricting procedure there and in California. Gov. Gavin Newsom of California vowed to respond with a maneuver giving Democrats a greater advantage, and the map unveiled Friday shows that he has succeeded in garnering support from key lawmakers in his party.
The map California released Friday is not yet official and remains a proposal. First, it will be considered by state lawmakers next week. If two-thirds approve, the map will go before voters in a special election on Nov. 4. The ballot measure would ask California voters if they approve using the redrawn map for congressional elections in 2026, 2028 and 2030. After that, California would return to using maps drawn by the state鈥檚 independent redistricting commission, which is supposed to create district boundaries without considering their partisan effects.
The map unveiled Friday would turn three Republican-held seats into safe Democratic seats, and turn two others into seats that lean Democratic, according to a chart that Democratic lawmakers have reviewed as part of the plan.
This article originally appeared in .
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