Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) is set to introduce legislation that would halt the nationwide partisan redistricting process if passed in the House.
Kiley’s legislation, which stops any mid-decade redistricting, comes in response to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) calling a special election in the state for voters to allow lawmakers to redraw congressional maps, rather than the independent commission. The California congressman represents a portion of eastern California.
“I am introducing legislation in Congress to stop Newsom’s corrupt scheme to overthrow our Citizens Redistricting Commission and make California a permanent one-party state,” he said in a post on X.
Texas began a partisan fight over map drawing across the country when President Donald Trump told the Republican-dominated legislature to draw a map that would gain the GOP five House seats.
Democratic states such as California have responded with their own actions to combat a possible new Texas map. Newsom’s special election aims to oust Republican incumbents in the state.
“My bill prohibits congressional districts from being redrawn in the middle of the decade,” Kiley said. “This is already the law in California under our State Constitution, which provides that redistricting is done once a decade by an Independent Commission.”
“But Newsom is planning to blow all of this up so he can impose his own partisan map on voters before the next election,” he added. “Fortunately, Congress has the ability to protect California voters using its authority under the Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution. This will also stop a damaging redistricting war from breaking out across the country.”
Kiley’s bill would nullify any new maps adopted by Texas and other states before the 2030 census.
Newsom said last week that he would call a special election to draw new maps in California. The state’s constitution has enshrined an independent redistricting commission, necessitating an election to allow the state to draw new maps.
“A special election would be called,” Newsom said last week. “It’s likely to be the first week of November. That process will unfold in a way where maps will be made available in a transparent way.”
NEWSOM TO CALL NOVEMBER SPECIAL ELECTIONS TO APPROVE NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAPS
Newsom’s special election effort will likely affect Kiley in a district rated Republican plus-2. The Cook Political Report rates his district as “likely Republican” in 2026. Halting the redistricting effort across the nation stands to benefit Kiley’s 2026 congressional run.
Other states that have floated redistricting in response to Texas include Illinois, New York, Florida, Missouri, and Indiana, among others.