California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared that a special election will occur on November 4th. During this election, voters in California will decide on the Election Rigging Response Act, aimed at introducing new partisan gerrymanders for the state’s House map in preparation for the 2026 midterm elections.
The announcement was made during a meeting held on Thursday, which Newsom referred to as “Liberation Day,” seemingly a nod to President Donald Trump’s tariff announcement from earlier. After the meeting, he informed reporters that a new gerrymander map would be unveiled soon, with the intention of “fully neutralizing” efforts from Texas’ political landscape.
Several California Democrats joined Newsom at the meeting, including Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, House Speaker Pete Aguilar, and Sarah Sadwani from the California Civil Repayment Committee.
Newsom emphasized during the press conference, “We’re acting in response to the US president’s request to Texas’ governor to find five seats.” He expressed concerns about democracy being eroded district by district, mentioning states like Missouri and Florida. “We can’t just sit back as this happens,” he said.
As for Republicans, there are talks about potential rezoning efforts in GOP-controlled states, such as Florida and Indiana, to gain additional seats for the upcoming elections. Meanwhile, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) labeled Newsom’s actions as a “stunt” aimed at consolidating radical Democratic power, arguing it has nothing to do with the residents of California.
In contrast to California’s process, other states like Texas allow voters to decide on boundary redrawing through initiatives, meaning new maps in California require voter approval. Despite the recent maps, California continues to have a strong Democratic representation.
The upcoming special election in November coincides with concerns raised by Rep. Ken Calvert about its estimated cost of $15 to $16 million, and the increased workload associated with the shortened timeline and the required changes. The registrar’s office assured Calvert that comprehensive preparations would be necessary ahead of the 2026 elections, including voter education and updates to voting equipment.
Following his press conference, Newsom informed the media that his administration would be introducing a series of bills next week to address special elections and the mapping process. He also responded to Riverside County’s cost estimates, urging that people stay alert to the political landscape, mentioning unsolicited campaign materials from Trump’s supporters.
