California and Texas Advance Redistricting Plans in Political Battle Over Congressional Maps
In a significant political development, both California and Texas legislatures are poised to pass redistricting bills today, following heated debates and committee meetings. The Californian Assembly and Senate will deliberate on a trio of bills aimed at temporarily altering the state’s congressional maps until 2030, which could potentially increase Democratic representation by five seats.
In response to similar moves in Texas and President Trump’s perceived intention to create a more favorable midterm election map in 2026, California Democrats have initiated this redistricting push. The legislation includes a contingency clause that activates the plan only if other states, such as Texas, implement their own mid-decade redistricting.
In contrast, the Texas House approved new congressional maps on Wednesday evening, with an 88-52 vote along party lines. This move comes after Democrats who had fled the state returned to Austin, ending a 15-day quorum crisis. The Republican-dominated state Senate will reconvene Thursday night, and the redistricting plan’s passage is expected.
The California legislature will review the proposed referendum, along with two related bills, starting Thursday. All three bills require a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers to pass. If successful, voters would decide whether they want to allow the legislature to override the existing congressional lines drawn by the state’s independent redistricting commission, replacing them with new ones through 2030.
The new map proposed by Democrats is expected to benefit their party, potentially securing five additional seats and reinforcing incumbents in more competitive districts. The package was advanced by the Assembly and Senate’s appropriations committees on Wednesday.
The California Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by Republican lawmakers earlier this week, seeking an emergency injunction to halt the redistricting effort due to insufficient voter notice. The Republicans objected to the proposed special election’s cost, estimated in a bill analysis as “likely in the low hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Democrats argued that the cost was justified given Texas’ plan to redraw its congressional maps at President Trump’s behest. They also compared the upcoming vote to the cost of the failed attempt to oust Governor Gavin Newsom from office in 2021.
The Senate and Assembly are adjourned until 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET Thursday. In Texas, the state Senate is expected to approve the redistricting plan today, sending it to Governor Greg Abbott for signing into law.
House Speaker Dustin Burrows described the new maps’ passage as marking a “new chapter of Republican unity.” However, Democrats have vowed to challenge the new congressional maps in court. State Representative Gene Wu, the House Democratic leader, stated, “This fight is far from over. Our best shot is in the courts.”
As the special session continues, lawmakers will also consider legislation imposing penalties or punishments for legislators who absent themselves during a session. Former President Barack Obama endorsed Governor Newsom’s redistricting push during a speech Tuesday, praising his responsible approach despite opposing political gerrymandering.