The June 3 primary election will be the first one using new California congressional maps intended to favor Democrats.The national redistricting battle started when President Donald Trump asked Texas to send more Republicans to Congress in a bid to maintain control of the White House. Midterm elections are when changes in power can often happen.In response, Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democratic leaders urged voters to consider Proposition 50, which targeted five Republican-led districts in California. However, unlike Texas, where state lawmakers were able to approve new maps themselves, the matter of redistricting was left to California voters, of who a majority approved.Prop. 50’s Democratic-drawn maps will be used for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections. The original language of Prop 50 introduced it as a way to offset the five congressional districts Texas redrew to favor Republicans. California has 52 seats, with 43 of them currently held by Democrats, and eight by Republicans. One of the five targeted incumbents, Kevin Kiley, was a Republican when he won the last election and is running as an independent for this election.Now that five of California’s districts were drawn to include more Democratic voters in Republican-heavy areas, many voters might be left with this question: Which congressional candidates am I voting for?The California State Assembly offers an interactive map with the Prop. 50 districts in effect. On this map, you can see your district based on address or place. See the interactive graphic below.Prior to Prop. 50, California’s maps had been redrawn by a citizens-led independent commission following every census.The act of intentionally redrawing district lines to favor a political party is also known as gerrymandering, a practice people once shied from admitting to, but is now a rallying cry for both Democrats and Republicans.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
The June 3 primary election will be the first one using new California congressional maps intended to favor Democrats.
The national redistricting battle started when President Donald Trump asked Texas to send more Republicans to Congress in a bid to maintain control of the White House. Midterm elections are when changes in power can often happen.
In response, Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democratic leaders urged voters to consider Proposition 50, which targeted five Republican-led districts in California. However, unlike Texas, where state lawmakers were able to approve new maps themselves, the matter of redistricting was left to California voters, of who a majority approved.
Prop. 50’s Democratic-drawn maps will be used for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections. The original language of Prop 50 introduced it as a way to offset the five congressional districts Texas redrew to favor Republicans.
California has 52 seats, with 43 of them currently held by Democrats, and eight by Republicans. One of the five targeted incumbents, Kevin Kiley, was a Republican when he won the last election and is running as an independent for this election.
Now that five of California’s districts were drawn to include more Democratic voters in Republican-heavy areas, many voters might be left with this question: Which congressional candidates am I voting for?
The California State Assembly offers an interactive map with the Prop. 50 districts in effect. On this map, you can see your district based on address or place. See the interactive graphic below.
Prior to Prop. 50, California’s maps had been redrawn by a citizens-led independent commission following every census.
The act of intentionally redrawing district lines to favor a political party is also known as gerrymandering, a practice people once shied from admitting to, but is now a rallying cry for both Democrats and Republicans.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel