The plan of the Texas Republicans, endorsed by Donald Trump, to change the state’s electoral maps in order to have a greater number of representatives for the party in the upcoming midterm elections, received a formal response on Thursday from California seeking a similar initiative that would benefit the Democrats.
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However, the paths are different. In the case of Texas, they can do it directly through their state legislature, which led to a blockade by the Democrats who decided to leave the state to avoid the minimum quorum.
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In California, it is different, and that is why Governor Gavin Newsom first needs the state congress to approve a project which must then be submitted to a popular vote in November.
What was the project presented by California?
This Thursday, Newsom presented the initiative and officially named it the “Election Rigging Response Act,” in what represents a significant shift in California’s traditional approach to redistricting.
If the project is approved, the independent commission responsible for the process would be temporarily set aside, allowing the state Legislature to propose new, more favorable lines for their party. The Democrats need two-thirds to pass the law and they have enough state senators and representatives to secure those votes.
In Texas, Republicans are seeking to implement a redesign of the electoral map that could result in up to five new seats in the House of Representatives. The push for this maneuver came after Trump urged Texas Governor Greg Abbott to find ways to secure these seats, which prompted an immediate reaction from Newsom.
“It’s not complicated. We are doing this in response to a U.S. president who called a sitting governor of the state of Texas and said, ‘Find me five seats’,” said Newsom during an event in Los Angeles, accompanied by Democratic lawmakers.
Political counterbalance in the midst of a national struggle
This proposal by Newsom is part of a broader confrontation between states led by Democrats and those controlled by Republicans, especially regarding the redrawing of electoral districts outside the usual ten-year schedule that follows the census.
The governor of California warned that if other states continue manipulating their maps, he will not stand idly by. “We are not going to wait,” he stated. During the same press conference on Thursday, he promised that the first drafts of the new districts will be revealed in the coming days.
Legal and political obstacles ahead
Despite Governor Newsom’s push, the proposal faces several challenges. In order to take effect, it must be approved by both the Legislature and the voters in a referendum. Additionally, since it is a year without major federal elections, relatively low voter turnout is anticipated, complicating the outlook for a high-profile reform.
Various groups have already begun to mobilize against the measure. Among them is former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a well-known advocate for nonpartisan redistricting, as well as prominent Republican figures and civic organizations such as the League of Women Voters. Also joining the opposition is Charles Munger Jr., heir of the late Berkshire Hathaway vice president and a constant critic of attempts at partisan manipulation in the electoral redistricting process.
Newsom argues that California’s action is a legitimate response to a real threat to democratic balance. Currently, Democrats hold 43 out of the state’s 52 federal seats, while in Texas, out of the 38 seats for representatives in the United States Congress, 25 are held by Republicans.
In other democratic states, the options for a reactive redistribution like California’s are much more limited. In New York, for example, any reform would require a constitutional amendment, a lengthy process that would prevent changes until at least 2028.