Update 8/22/25: The California Legislature has passed its redistricting legislative package, approving a new congressional map that will go before voters on November 4. The following article has been edited to reflect the update.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A new congressional map will appear on a special election ballot in California, whether or not Texas signs into law its own gerrymandered maps, after the “trigger” language was removed from the proposed constitutional amendment Thursday.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a package of bills that allow the mid-cycle gerrymander pending approval from voters. A recent poll shows most Californians oppose legislative redistricting, but Democrats also have a sizable advantage in registration.
Newsom originally pitched his plan to nullify Texas mid-cycle redistricting as a one-time-only, trigger response: if Texas lawmakers approve maps that deliver 5 new seats to the GOP, California would respond by taking 5 seats from Republicans.
Here's the thing: California Democrats jumped the gun and approved this redistricting plan BEFORE Texas Gov. Greg Abbott even received the new mid-cycle gerrymandered map from his legislature.
Just one week ago, Newsom officially called on the California Legislature to pass two bills:
One calling a November 4 special election for voters to decide on (2) a constitutional amendment that would allow temporary legislative redistricting with a new congressional map. The state's independent redistricting commission would then redraw the map in 2031.
Specifically, the governor and his supporters said the new map “could be triggered to take effect under the proposed constitutional amendment if other states engage in redistricting.”
“California will not sit idle as Trump and his Republican lapdogs shred our country’s democracy before our very eyes,” Newsom said.
This moment calls for urgency and action – that is what we are putting before voters this November, a chance to fight back against his anti-American ways.”
ACA-8, the proposed constitutional amendment, was amended Thursday with language that makes it a preemptive response to Texas redistricting, rather than a trigger response.
First, the amended language adds, “[i]n response to the congressional redistricting in Texas in 2025,” and removes language that specifically says the amendment will “become operative only if Texas, Florida, or another state adopts a new congressional district map.”
At this point, it appears all, but certain that Texas will redraw its maps (though it's still in the legislative process). Texas House Democrats returned to the state this week, allowing the Republican majority the quorum they needed to pass a new congressional map.
The vote was 88-52 along party lines.
The map still needs final approval from the Texas Senate and Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature, both of which are expected Friday. But even before this could happen, California Democrats made a statement and signaled that the gloves are officially off in this fight.
Texas Democrats will challenge their state's mid-cycle gerrymander in court when it happens, but win or lose, it won’t matter in California. This will now go before voters to decide whether California should gerrymander its own districts.