WATCH: CA Democrats pass congressional redistricting plan

WATCH: CA Democrats pass congressional redistricting plan

After a day of vigorous debates punctuated by occasional applause, both houses of the California Legislature Thursday passed the three bills making up the congressional redistricting plan.

Votes were along party lines, with the Democratic supermajorities passing the legislation.

The Election Rigging Response Act, which includes a constitutional amendment and a map Republicans strongly oppose, goes to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who’s expected to sign it quickly. Then it will go on the Nov. 4 ballot in a special election, where voters will ultimately decide whether to redraw districts into ones that Republicans say favor Democrats.

If passed by voters, the measure will undo some of the work of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, which voters created when they passed the Voters FIRST Act in 2008 and the related Voters FIRST Act for Congress in 2010. The panel consists of Democrats, Republicans and independents.

Democrats have said their goal is to nullify Texas’ attempt to secure five more Republican seats in advance of the 2026 midterm election in a U.S. House with a razor-thin GOP majority. And Republican legislative leaders speaking to The Center Square agreed the California redistricting could cost five Republican seats, including those in the GOP strongholds in San Diego and Orange counties and along the California-Nevada border. The vulnerable congressmen are Republicans Kevin Kiley, Doug LaMalfa, Darrell Issa, Ken Calvert and David Valadao.

In the Assembly and Senate, Democrats accused Republican President Donald Trump of an authoritarian power grab.

Republicans in both chambers said Democrats were pulling a power grab of their own with a map drawn behind closed doors and revealed in a rushed process.

But Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, called the congressional redistricting proposal “a proud moment” in the chamber’s history.

“We will not let our political system be hijacked by authoritarianism,” Rivas said, speaking from the floor during the session led by a fellow Democrat, Speaker Pro Tem Josh Lowenthal.

Also from the floor, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, D-San Fernando Valley, said Trump understands his policies are unpopular and will cost him the House in 2026.

To keep the House, Trump is trying to change the rules “in the most undemocratic fashion,” Gabriel said.

He said Democrats were acting democratically by presenting the congressional redistricting plan to voters on the Nov. 4 ballot. He said ultimately it’s not Trump or Newsom who will decide the issue.

“Let the people vote,” Gabriel said.

But Assemblymember Daniel Tangipa, a Republican representing Fresno and other nearby counties, criticized Democrats for replacing the work of the independent Citizens Recommissioning Commission, which had dozens of hearings, by a rushed process. Tangipa, who sits on the chamber’s Elections Committee, said Republicans were told by Democrats to accept their congressional redistricting plan, presented at the 11th hour, on faith.

“But democracy does not run on faith,” Tangipa said. “It runs on accountability.”

Another Republican, Senate Minority Leader James Gallagher, noted the redistricting will shrink California Republicans to a much smaller percentage of the congressional delegation.

Republicans would see their percentage of the state’s House delegation fall from 17% to approximately 8%.

Gallagher said that isn’t fighting fire with fire in response to Texas’ redistricting. “It seems like a sledgehammer.”

In the calmer setting of the Senate, Republicans echoed Gallagher and Tangipa’s concerns.

Democrats created the map without transparency, said Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Huntington Beach, adding, “I can’t think of anything more authoritarian than pre-determined elections.”

But Sen. Dave Cortese, D-San Jose, warned about the “dangers of unchecked power” and accused Trump of trying to disenfranchise voters by pressuring Texas for five more Republican seats, so that he can continue his extreme policies.

“That’s why this president and administration is a such a powerful threat to democracy,” Cortese said. “He’s no longer consolidating power among three branches. He’s disenfranchising and taking away the right to vote.”

Democratic legislators contended their new map reunites communities and keeps three-quarters of voters in their current congressional districts, but GOP lawmakers pointed to counties and cities being split throughout the state. The Center Square’s review of the map confirms that cities and counties would be divided.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Screenshot-2025-06-16-at-3.26.08-PM-1

Will County Board Meeting Briefs Package

COUNTY APPOINTMENTS Fire Protection District: Board approved county executive appointments to Manhattan Fire Protection District board. Agricultural Committee: Approved appointment to Agricultural Area Committee with Member Judy Ogala abstaining due...
Police blue and red flashing light on the car in the street

Manhattan Police Reports

On May 14th, at 1225 A.M. officers observed a vehicle traveling in the area of West North & Foxford at a high rate of speed. Officers radar indicated the gray...
Manhattan School District 114 Logo Graphic

Manhattan District Adopts New Math Program After Comprehensive Review

The Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education unanimously approved the adoption of Eureka Math Squared for kindergarten through eighth grade on Tuesday, concluding a year-long evaluation process involving 25...
Manhattan School District 114 Logo Graphic

Manhattan Junior High Scholastic Bowl Team Places Second at State Championship

Manhattan Junior High School's scholastic bowl team achieved a historic milestone by placing second in the state championship, marking the first time in the program's eight-year history that the team...
Manhattan School District 114 Logo Graphic

Enrollment Growth Prompts Staffing Discussions as Construction Continues

Manhattan School District 114 continues managing significant enrollment growth while construction projects remain on schedule for completion by the end of the school year. Current kindergarten enrollment of 218 students...
Manhattan School District 114 Logo Graphic

School District 114 Meeting Briefs

Budget Display Scheduled: The district's fiscal year 2025 amended budget will be on public display from May 15 through June 17, with board approval scheduled for the June 17 meeting....
Manhattan Township

Manhattan Road District Eyes $2.1M Budget, Hinges on Unguaranteed Solar Farm Funds

The Manhattan Township Road District is proposing a $2.15 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year, a plan that includes the purchase of a new truck and finishing a storage...
Manhattan Township

Manhattan Township Delays Decision on Critical Server Upgrade Amid Security Concerns

Manhattan Township officials are weighing a costly but necessary technology upgrade after learning their primary server is a decade old and runs on unsupported software, posing a potential cybersecurity risk....
frankfort-park-district.1

Frankfort Park District Reorganizes Board, Explores Options for Tax-Impacting Projects

FRANKFORT – The Frankfort Park District Board seated its re-elected members, reorganized its leadership, and approved its new annual budget on Tuesday, while also revealing it is actively exploring options...
Manhattan Township

Assessor Announces End to “Empathetic” Tax Reductions, Raises Senior Freeze Threshold

Manhattan Township homeowners will see two significant changes in property assessment rules, including the end of a long-standing practice of granting tax reductions for fire-damaged properties and a beneficial increase...
Manhattan Township

Meeting Briefs: Manhattan Township for May 13, 2025

Officials Sworn into Office: Clerk Kelly Baltas administered the oath of office to newly elected and re-elected officials. Taking the oath were Supervisor James F. Walsh and Trustees Eileen Fitzer, Paul...
frankfort-park-district

Aging Sara Park Building Poses Challenge for Park District

The Frankfort Park District is grappling with how to address the deteriorating Sara Park building, whose roof is in "bad shape" and whose location within a flood plain complicates any...
frankfort-park-district.1

Meeting Briefs: Frankfort Park District Board for May 13, 2025

The Frankfort Park District Board of Commissioners re-elected its leadership team for a new term and approved its fiscal year 2025-2026 budget at its meeting on Tuesday. The board also...
Village of Manhattan Logo Graphic

Manhattan Swears In New Officials, Tables Fire Code Discussion

Village postpones St. Joseph's school sprinkler decision as benefactors emerge to help with costs Mayor Mike Adrieansen began his second term alongside newly elected Village Clerk Rebecca Bouck and trustees...
Village of Manhattan Logo Graphic

Manhattan Honors Departing Officials at Final Board Meeting

Beemsterboer, Adamski and Lewis recognized for combined 32 years of public service The Village of Manhattan honored three departing officials Tuesday evening, recognizing their combined 32 years of public service...