California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs bills related to redrawing the state’s congressional maps in Sacramento, Calif., on Aug. 21, 2025. In a move to counter Texas House Republicans’ plan to redraw the state’s congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, California Democrats took up a proposed constitutional amendment to temporarily redraw their own congressional maps, potentially creating five additional U.S. House seats for their party. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
On Nov. 4, Californians will go to the polls to vote in a referendum that would authorize replacing the state’s current congressional map with one designed to favor Democrats.
California Gov. Gavin Newsomsigned a bill to authorize the referendum on Aug. 21. Democrats say the measure is meant to “fight fire with fire” as Texas moved forward with redistricting favoring Republicans.
