California’s Winding Path to Mid-Decade Redistricting

California's Winding Path to Mid-Decade Redistricting

Spurred by a surprise redistricting in Texas, California is putting a new redistricting plan before voters next month.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaking in support of the state's redistricting plan, which goes before voters next month. (Allen J. Schaben/Getty Images)

Once every 10 years, in years ending in zero, states revise the legislative districts from which voters will elect members to the U.S. House of Representatives and their state legislatures for the next decade.

So why are Californians voting on new maps next month?

Redistricting unexpectedly took center stage in July, when Texas drafted and ultimately passed new congressional maps. In response, California Gov. Gavin Newsom led efforts to do the same in his state. Laws in most states do not clearly permit or prohibit mid-decade redistricting. Regardless, as Roll Call reports, several states have at least considered the idea as Texas and California made their moves this summer.

Texas passed its new congressional maps during a special legislative session, but California must follow a few additional steps. California is one of 10 states in which a commission has primary responsibility for drawing congressional maps. The California Constitution directs the commission to redistrict in "the year following the year in which the national census is taken under the direction of Congress at the beginning of each decade."

Aside from a role in selecting commissioners, California's Legislature plays no part in redistricting under the state's commission system. So, for lawmakers to exercise authority over redistricting and draw a new congressional map this year, they must do three things:

• Introduce and enact new congressional maps through the legislative process.
• Satisfy a state law requiring 30 days to pass between a bill's introduction and consideration by the Legislature.
• Amend the state constitution to authorize the Legislature to redistrict instead of the commission.

The first step is complete: In August, the Legislature drafted and the governor approved a new congressional map. Next, the state Supreme Court rejected claims that the Legislature violated the 30-day bill review period. (The redistricting legislation came before the Legislature as an amendment to an older bill.)

The final step is up to the voters. Appearing on November's ballot, Proposition 50 will ask California voters to revise their constitution to state that the maps reflected in the August bill will take effect until the state commission certifies new maps in 2031. As originally drafted, the amendment specified it would take effect only if another state undertook mid-decade redistricting in the absence of a court order or other state law requirement. After Texas redistricted, the measure's language was updated to state that new maps will take effect if the measure passes.

California's redistricting commission was created via citizen initiative in 2008. Several other states have since followed suit. This year, Californians will reflect on two cycles of commission-led redistricting and decide if they want a temporary role for the Legislature this decade.

For more on all 2025 measures, including post-election results, and to stay up to date as measures begin to qualify for the 2026 ballot, visit NCSL's Ballot Measures Database.

Helen Brewer is a senior policy specialist in NCSL's Elections and Redistricting Program.