Californians show increasing support for temporarily altering election districts to counteract Trump and Texas' influence, according to recent polls
In a high-stakes fight over political boundaries, the future control of the U.S. House could be at stake. The political landscape is shifting, with two significant developments in California and Texas.
In California, Governor Gavin Newsom's proposal for a temporary redrawing of congressional districts is gaining traction. The Democratic Party is backing this strategy as a countermeasure to Republican gerrymandering efforts, such as those in Texas. This temporary "emergency" measure, as Democrats describe it, aims to combat extreme Republican attempts to manipulate the system unfairly.
The UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll found that 46% of voters support California's redistricting maneuver, while 36% are against it. Among voters who regularly cast ballots in statewide elections, overall support for redistricting jumped to 55%, compared with 34% opposed.
However, the undecided voters hold significant sway. Among Latino, Black, and Asian voters, nearly 30% said they have yet to decide how they would vote on redistricting. Younger voters, aged 18-29, are more likely to be undecided, with nearly a third saying they are unsure, compared with 11% of those older than 65.
Winning in November will require pushing these undecided voters to back the redistricting plan.
Meanwhile, in Texas, the Republican-led plan to create five new Republican-leaning seats could secure the GOP's House majority. This move is aimed at countering California's redistricting efforts.
The California Supreme Court recently rejected a legal challenge filed by California Republicans regarding the redistricting process. The petition was based on the claim that Democrats rushed the proposal through the Legislature and violated the California Constitution. The high court's decision allows the redistricting process to move forward.
Republicans, on the other hand, support an "independent line-drawing panel" determining seats to the House of Representatives, rather than the state Legislature.
The partisan fight over election maps elicited deeply partisan results. Nearly 7 in 10 Democratic voters support the redistricting measure, while Republicans overwhelmingly pan it by about the same margin.
Andrew J. Campa is following the debate about Gov. Gavin Newsom's plan to temporarily redraw California's congressional districts. The new maps, if approved, would be in place for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 congressional elections. The outcome of this battle could shape the political landscape for years to come.
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