SACRAMENTO, Calif.—In an extraordinary escalation of the national battle over voting rights, Governor Gavin Newsom announced “The Election Rigging Response Act” in response to what he called “Donald Trump’s illegal power grab” in Texas, pushing forward with a plan to overhaul California’s own redistricting process. The dramatic moves come as the 2026 midterm elections loom and both parties brace for what could become the most consequential redistricting fight in modern American history.
The California Labor Federation, a coalition of over 1,200 unions representing more than 2.1 million workers, announced its formal support for Governor Newsom’s proposal in a press release on August 6. The organization argues that California’s current congressional maps, last redrawn in 2021 by the state’s independent redistricting commission, fail to adequately represent working-class communities and communities of color.
“These district lines were supposed to create fair representation, but what we’ve seen is continued dilution of working people’s political power,” said Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, the Federation’s Chief Officer and a former state assemblymember. “From the Central Valley to South Los Angeles, entire communities are being carved up in ways that make it harder for them to elect leaders who truly fight for their interests.”
The proposed measure would need to gain a two-thirds majority of votes from the California State Senate and Assembly to make the ballot. If successful, it would trigger a special election this fall, potentially redrawing California’s 52 congressional districts before the 2026 midterms.
The ballot measure would return congressional redistricting authority to the Legislature for three election cycles now that Texas has proceeded with partisan redistricting. The new maps will likely target five Republican districts: CA-01 (LaMalfa), CA-03 (Kiley), CA-22 (Valadao), CA-41 (Calvert), and CA-48 (Issa).
The Labor Federation’s announcement comes just days after Governor Gavin Newsom issued a stark warning about Republican-led redistricting efforts in states like Texas and Florida. In a series of social media posts and public statements, Newsom accused GOP lawmakers of “systematically dismantling fair representation” through aggressive gerrymandering.
“While California has an independent redistricting process, Republicans in states like Texas are openly defying court orders to draw fair maps,” Newsom stated, referencing recent rulings that found Texas’ congressional maps illegally diluted Latino voting power. “This isn’t just about Texas – it’s about protecting democracy nationwide.”
Beyond labor’s endorsement, “The Election Rigging Response Act” has broad multiracial support with public support from California’s AAPI Caucus, Legislative Black Caucus, and Latino Caucus. “California will not sit idly by while Republicans attempt to rig the electoral system to continue pushing the policies of an administration that has made life less affordable, worsened public health, weakened our educational system, and made it harder for our most vulnerable communities to get ahead,” said State Senator Akilah Weber Pierson, M.D., Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus.
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