Fearing that the Republicans’ slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives was in danger, President Trump urged Texas legislators to take action and force a mid-decade vote to boost the number of Republican seats statewide in Texas. Governor Abbott is expected to ratify this legislation, which could give Republicans in Congress an edge of five or so seats statewide.
Though things are evolving by the minute in Sacramento, California legislators have already followed through by passing the first bill to retaliate. It’s a left coast political stunt that disregards taxpayers and the will of the voters.
For those who don’t follow politics that closely, here’s the deal:
In Texas’ case, Republicans are in control.
In California’s case, Democrats are in control.
According to the East Bay Times, the Texas maneuver triggered Congressional Democrats in California, led by Rep. Zoe Lofgren, the “dean” of the Democrat Congressional Delegation, to draw new maps. Accordingly, Congressional Democrats hired Paul Mitchell, a savvy redistricting expert, to re-draw the lines to give Democrats a chance at an additional five seats.
What’s different about Texas and California?
In California’s case, voters weighed in on redistricting in 2008 for legislative districts and 2010 for congressional districts. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger championed the concept that taking line-drawing out of the hands of politicians who were trying to pick their voters was the right thing to do.
The outcome was a Citizens Redistricting Commission, giving power and input to the people–not the politicians. While not perfect, it’s a vast improvement over the old system because it gives the public a real seat at the table.
What Newsom is attempting to do now is to fool the voters. He is asking them to undo what they voted for and vote for a new, partisan, gerrymandered scheme to stop Donald Trump. And if it keeps him in the 2028 spotlight, all the better—for him—at least.
Is a mid-decade redrawing of congressional districts in the best interest of California voters?
If Newsom signs legislation as expected tomorrow, who’s going to pay for this sudden, new election in November 2025?
Can California actually afford this?
A statewide election in California would cost roughly $250 million. California currently has a rather large budget deficit of $12 billion if you believe Newsom’s numbers from his May 2025 Revise or up to $20 billion, according to figures from the Legislative Analyst’s Office.
This fact seems to be lost on California legislators, who are ignoring the price tag in favor of political gamesmanship. The showdown is likely to begin tomorrow when Governor Newsom signs legislation, putting California taxpayers on the hook and setting up what promises to be another several million dollar political campaign.
So, what’s the alternative?
Two wrongs don’t make a right. One-sided redistricting mid-decade from either party is ridiculous. Rigging both ends doesn’t balance the scale. In fact, it will lead to voters distrusting their elected representatives even more.
One Member of Congress suffering from retaliation is Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA), who ran in 2021 in the Recall of Governor Newsom. Though the Recall failed miserably, Newsom is seeking revenge, splitting up an entire county into four pieces, placing Kiley in a position where he must run against a fellow Member of Congress. A cardinal rule of redistricting favors keeping communities of interest together. This is just one example that defies that rule.
For his part, Rep. Kiley introduced legislation last week that would prevent mid-decade redistricting nationally. That means that neither Texas, nor California, nor any other large state with a big stake nationally would be able to stage stunts like this in the future. Listen here to what Kiley is proposing.
Congress should pass Kiley’s legislation and get on with the business of solving real problems. The President should sign it because in the end, drawing new lines won’t fix the ones they keep crossing.