Overview
- California voters approved Proposition 50 by a wide margin, shifting congressional mapmaking from the independent commission to the Democratic-led Legislature for the next three cycles.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom will travel to Houston to salute Texas Democrats who stalled their state’s redistricting vote, following his call for other blue states to pursue similar steps.
- The California Republican Party filed a lawsuit arguing the plan violates the Voting Rights Act and the 14th Amendment, with legal experts saying appeals could reach the Ninth Circuit and possibly the Supreme Court.
- A separate ballot initiative has been filed that would limit Prop 50’s effect to only the 2026 election, creating another path to narrow the policy.
- Analysts expect the maps could net Democrats roughly five U.S. House seats, putting Republicans Doug LaMalfa, Kevin Kiley, Ken Calvert, Darrell Issa and David Valadao under increased pressure in 2026.