Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) on Friday said he filed for reelection as an independent in the redrawn 6th Congressional District instead of the 3rd District he serves due to California’s redistricting measure that voters backed last year.

Proposition 50 allowed California to bypass its independent redistricting commission and pass a new Democratic-friendly House map prior to the 2026 midterm elections. The new map could allow Democrats four or five pickup opportunities in the House.

Kiley shared a video on the social platform X explaining his decision, saying “gerrymandering is a plague on democracy” and accusing California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) of bringing it “back to California.”

“But there’s a way we can fight back and protect our democracy from his partisan games: by removing partisanship from the equation,” Kiley said. “Today, I filed for reelection as ‘No Party Preference.’ This means I will not have a party affiliation on the ballot or as an officeholder.”

He said he has always seen himself as being “an independent voice for our community, holding politicians in Sacramento and Washington accountable to serve my constituents.”

“I answer to you, not party leaders,” he added.

Kiley also called out Texas, which was the first state last year to announce it would redraw its map at the behest of President Trump, who pushed red states to preserve GOP control of Congress. Kiley accused the Golden State and the Lone Star State of spreading the “epidemic of gerrymandering” across the country.

“Both parties are complicit. If there is one thing Americans agree on, it is that political division has become a serious problem for our country. We need to find ways for politics to bring us together as Americans rather than tear us apart as partisans.”

California’s 6th District is represented by Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.).

Proposition 50 passed with 64.4 percent support, making California the first Democratic-controlled state to reshape its congressional map. Championed by Newsom and other prominent Democrats ahead of the election, he praised its approval as a “resurgence of energy” for the party.

CalMatters reported in October that although the measure was labeled as gerrymandering by critics, Democrats already outnumbered Republicans nearly 2-to-1.

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