Overview
- California voters approved Proposition 50, pausing the Citizens’ Redistricting Commission and shifting congressional mapmaking to the Legislature for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections.
- Newsom is set to headline a Houston rally Saturday to salute Texas Democrats who stalled a redistricting vote and to tout projections that California’s map could net roughly five additional Democratic-leaning House seats.
- California Republican leaders have filed a lawsuit to block the measure, alleging violations of the Voting Rights Act and the 14th Amendment tied to Latino-centered districts, with any ruling likely to face appeals.
- A separate ballot initiative effort has launched to limit Prop. 50’s effect so it would apply only to the 2026 election.
- Analysts say several GOP-held districts are newly at risk, with seats held by Darrell Issa, David Valadao, Kevin Kiley, Doug LaMalfa and Ken Calvert targeted, and Cook now rating Valadao’s district a toss-up.