Newsom’s ‘Break-the-Glblock’ Plan Sets Up California Midterm Redistricting Fight

Democratic consultant Vance Ulrich published a hypothetical map on social media website X that would give Democrats a voter registration advantage in 49 of the state’s 52 districts. Nine Republicans currently hold House seats in California.

“Completely adheres to the Voting Rights Act and probably defeats 6 Republican inblockbents,” Ulrich said. “Really up to inblockbent House Dems about how aggressive they want to be.”

Newsom said on Friday that he was weighing “three or four different pathways” to redraw California’s lines if Texas Republicans move forward with new maps.

The governor could ask the Legislature to place a measure on the ballot asking voters to approve new maps — or a new map-drawing process — in a special election in the fall. Alternatively, Newsom and Democrats in the Legislature could attempt to draw new lines without voter approval, a move likely to face legal challenges.

Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, a Santa Cruz Democrat who chairs the Assembly’s Elections Committee, said she understood Newsom’s desire to level the national playing field through redistricting. But she worried whether new lines could be in place before the window for candidates to file for office opens on Dec. 11.

“How can our elections officials conduct a special election, certify results, receive redrawn lines, update their maps and voter files, all in time?” Pellerin said. “I’m seeing a lot of time constraints, a lack of resources, no funding, which is really going to impact any accuracy or confidence in our electoral systems.”

Republicans in the Legislature predictably denounced the idea of Newsom’s redistricting, as have many pro-democracy groups.

“Gavin Newsom is wrong on redistricting. It is not the leadership California needs right now. It is not the leadership the nation needs now or in the future,” said Darius Kemp, California executive director of Common Cause, in a statement. “California is the gold standard when it comes to people-first districts. Governor Newsom can still choose to lead with our state as a gold standard, rather than pick a fight that honestly, his political party cannot and will not win.”

The governor’s redistricting push could hinge on his ability to convince Democratic voters in California that breaking the GOP hold on power in Washington is more important than maintaining good-government norms at home.

“I believe that the people of California understand what’s at stake,” Newsom said. “If we don’t put a stake into the heart of this administration, there may not be another election in 2028.”

KQED’s Brian Krans contributed to this story.