California passes first of three bills to counter Texas in nationwide fight over election maps [View all]

Source: Washington Post

Updated August 21, 2025 at 1:09 p.m. EDT


The California Assembly on Thursday passed the first of three bills aimed at drawing new congressional maps, as Democrats try to counter a Republican-driven effort in Texas.

The blue and red states are rejiggering their maps in hopes of creating new U.S. House districts that would give their parties an advantage in next year’s midterm elections. Though Texas and California have acted first, an array of other states are also moving ahead. Republicans are eyeing changes in Indiana, Ohio, Missouri and Florida. Democrats are looking at whether they carve out more seats in Illinois.

The extraordinary fight over the terrain for next year’s election has included an assertion from President Donald Trump that his party is “entitled” to more House seats, a two-week walkout by Texas Democrats and an array of lawsuits and threats from both parties in multiple states.

California lawmakers say their new Democrat-leaning maps — adding as many as five blue seats — are necessary to respond to what they view as a power grab by Texas House Republicans, who approved a new map Wednesday night that would give their party an edge in winning as many as five new GOP seats in Congress. The Texas Senate is expected to follow suit by Friday, sending the measure to Gov. Greg Abbott (R) for his signature.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/08/21/california-texas-redistricting-trump/