The next steps in California Democrats’ plan to counter Texas Republicans’ redistricting push

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California is the first Democratic-led state to wade into a brewing national redistricting fight after President Donald Trump urged Texas Republicans to draw new maps to maintain the party’s slim U.S. House majority after the 2026 midterm elections.

The Texas plan was temporarily stalled when minority Democrats left the state to stop the Legislature from passing any bills, but some lawmakers said they’ll return to Texas now that California is moving forward with its counter act.

Both parties hope to add five seats for their side.

Here’s what happens next in California:

Lawmakers will return to the Capitol on Monday after summer break and plan to immediately take up the partisan plan. State Democrats hold supermajorities in both chambers — enough to act without any Republican votes — and Newsom has said he’s not worried about winning the required support from two-thirds of lawmakers to advance the maps.

Lawmakers will hold hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday on a package of bills to establish the new congressional map, declare a Nov. 4 special election and authorize to reimburse local government for the costs. Elections committees in both houses are asking for public feedback on the proposed map, but it’s unlikely any changes would be made after the bills are officially introduced Monday.

Amendments to any legislation would require a 72-hour wait before a vote. That would jeopardize Democrats’ plan to approve the package by Thursday to give elections officials enough time to prepare ballots for a statewide election in November. State leaders already have blown past deadlines designed to give local officials adequate time for organizing an election.

California sends every voter a mail-in ballot roughly a month before each election. That means local officials have less than two months to prepare and print ballots.

They’re already preparing. On Friday, a coalition of county officials urged the Legislature to provide money in advance, because many counties are cash-strapped, and officials worry they won’t have enough money to administer the election.

A 2021 special election cost over $200 million to conduct. State Republicans this week estimated this year’s would cost $235 million.

Democrats chose Nov. 4 for the election because Los Angeles County and others are already holding local elections that day.

Newsom is leading the campaign in favor of the maps. He and Democrats signaled Thursday they’ll make the effort a referendum on Trump and…