Maps show how California's redrawn congressional lines could look

BUT WE BEGIN WITH THAT DEVELOPING NEWS OUT OF THE STATE CAPITOL. WE ARE GETTING OUR FIRST LOOK AT THE PROPOSED REDRAWN DISTRICTS IN CALIFORNIA’S CONGRESSIONAL MAPS. STATE DEMOCRATS HOPE THEIR MAPS WILL SEND MORE DEMOCRATS TO CONGRESS. THIS IS ALL IN RESPONSE TO TEXAS REPUBLICANS. THEY’RE TRYING TO SEND AT LEAST FIVE MORE MEMBERS OF THAT PARTY TO THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT AT SIX. I’M KURTIS MING, AND I’M EDIE LAMBERT KCRA 3’S CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT ASHLEY ZAVALA WAS THE FIRST JOURNALIST TO OBTAIN THESE DRAFT MAPS. SHE’S HERE NOW WITH HOW THIS COULD IMPACT YOU AND YOUR VOTE. SO, ASHLEY, THESE PROPOSED MAPS ARE NOW OFFICIAL. EDIE. THAT’S RIGHT. THEY ARE OFFICIALLY THE PROPOSED MAPS THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE WILL CONSIDER NEXT WEEK. NOW, LET’S FIRST GIVE YOU A LOOK AT WHAT CALIFORNIA’S CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS LOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW. IT’S THIS MAP RIGHT BEHIND ME. THIS IS THE RESULT OF THE 2024 ELECTION. THE RED SEATS YOU SEE ARE LINED OUT, AND THEN ALSO THOSE BLUE SEATS REPRESENT DEMOCRATS. RED REPUBLICAN. SO HERE’S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AGAINST THE NOW OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED MAP, WITH SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN OUR AREA. DEMOCRATS WANT TO CHANGE THIS IN THE FIGHT OVER WHICH PARTY CONTROLS THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. HALFWAY THROUGH PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S TERM, WHICH VOTERS WILL DECIDE IN 2026? SO HERE IS THE FULL LOOK AT THE MAP. THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE SUBMITTED THESE MAPS OFFICIALLY TO CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE TODAY FOR CONSIDERATION, AND THEY HAVE NOW BEEN POSTED ON THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS COMMITTEES WEBSITES. LET’S START WITH NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND DISTRICT ONE. REPUBLICAN DOUG LAMALFA DISTRICT WOULD NO LONGER REPRESENT THE MASSIVE CHUNK OF REPUBLICANS THAT STRETCH ACROSS WHAT’S KNOWN AS THE NORTH STATE. HIS DISTRICT IS SLICED AND SENT CLOSER TO THE COAST TO PUT MORE DEMOCRATS IN HIS DISTRICT. IN A STATEMENT IN PART, LAMALFA SAID, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT’S WRONG WITH THESE MAPS, JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THEM. HOW ON EARTH DOES MODOC COUNTY ON THE NEVADA AND OREGON BORDER HAVE ANY INTEREST WITH MARIN COUNTY AND THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE? VOTERS TOOK THIS POWER FROM SACRAMENTO FOR JUST THIS REASON. THIS IS NAKED POLITICS AT ITS WORST FOR DISTRICT THREE. REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN KILEY. HIS DISTRICT SEES A GEOGRAPHICAL CHOP NO LONGER STRETCHING ALONG THE EASTERN BORDER, AND INSTEAD IT LEAKS INTO SACRAMENTO COUNTY. IN A STATEMENT, HE SAID, MAKE NO MISTAKE, I WILL WIN REELECTION TO THE HOUSE REGARDLESS OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO MY DISTRICT. BUT I FULLY EXPECT THAT THE THIRD DISTRICT WILL REMAIN EXACTLY AS IT IS. WE WILL DEFEAT NEWSOM’S SHAM INITIATIVE AND VINDICATE THE WILL OF CALIFORNIA VOTERS. NOW, A SOURCE CLOSE TO SACRAMENTO COUNTY DISTRICT SIX REPRESENTATIVE. WHAT YOU’RE SEEING ON YOUR SCREEN HERE, AMI BERA TELLS US HE’S TAKING A LOOK AT THE MAPS AND IS CONSIDERING A RUN FOR THE NEW DISTRICT THREE BECAUSE HE WANTS TO KEEP REPRESENTING THE SACRAMENTO REGION. SO LET’S BRING UP DISTRICT SIX. IF BARROW WERE TO RUN IN DISTRICT THREE, THIS MEANS IT CREATES ESSENTIALLY A NEW DEMOCRATIC SEAT IN OUR SACRAMENTO REGION, REPRESENTING PARTS OF SACRAMENTO AND ROSEVILLE. FOR EXAMPLE. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE MANY CHANGES WE COULD SEE IF STATE LAWMAKERS ARE OKAY WITH THESE MAPS. IN A STATEMENT, THE DC’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAID IN PART THAT THEY ANTICIPATE THAT THIS PROPOSAL WILL HAVE WIDESPREAD SUPPORT BOTH AMONG CALIFORNIA OFFICE AND VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE STATE. NOW, DEPENDING ON HOW ACTIVITY AT THE STATE CAPITOL GOES NEXT WEEK, THESE MAPS COULD BE ON THE BALLOT FOR VOTERS TO ULTIMATELY DECIDE UPON WHETHER THESE TAKE EFFECT FOR THE 2026, 2028 AND 2030 ELECTIONS. ALL RIGHT. SO THEY’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THESE MAPS FOR A WHILE, AND WE WAIT UNTIL FRIDAY. IT’S AFTER HOURS NOW THAT WE HAVE THE CONFIRMED MAP. SO WHAT’S BEEN GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES AS THEY’VE BEEN DRAFTING THESE NEW LINES. RIGHT. WELL, ALL WEEK WE’VE BEEN UNDER THE IMPRESSION CALIFORNIA’S LEGISLATURE, STATE CALIFORNIANS, WERE GOING TO BE RELEASING THESE MAPS, BUT IT ENDED UP COMING FROM NATIONAL DEMOCRATS. SO WE WERE HEARING ALL AFTERNOON THAT THERE WAS SOME ARGUING HAPPENING AMONG THE STATE AND NATIONAL DEMOCRATS OVER HOW THESE LINES HAVE BEEN DRAWN. SOME PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. THEY WANT SOME MORE DATA, AND WE SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AT THE STATE CAPITOL. THAT’S A PIPELINE TO CONGRESS. MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVING IN CONGRESS RIGHT NOW WANT SERVED IN OUR STATE LEGISLATURE. SO THERE IS SOME CONCERN AMONG MAYBE THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SOMEDAY REPRESENT CALIFORNIA IN CONGRESS AT THIS POINT, THINKING THOSE COULD BE MY DISTRICTS. EXACTLY. AND WE SHOULD NOTE THESE MAPS WOULD NOT TAKE EFFECT UNDER THE PROPOSED BALLOT INITIATIVE. IF TEXAS DOES NOT REDRAW ITS LINES. THAT’S WHAT THIS ALL COMES DOWN TO.

Updated: 4:23 PM CDT Aug 16, 2025

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Maps show how California's redrawn congressional lines could look

Updated: 4:23 PM CDT Aug 16, 2025

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The California Assembly on Friday released a proposed map of new congressional districts that voters would weigh in on a special election, if approved by the state legislature next week. See a breakdown of the map in the video aboveKCRA 3 first obtained the maps earlier Friday, which were submitted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to the California Legislature. Documents obtained by KCRA 3 show a 60-page presentation of the proposed map. The presentation also includes a letter by Julie Merz, executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Read that letter here."We anticipate this proposal will have widespread support both among California office holders and various stakeholders across the state," Merz said in a statement on Friday. The leaked drafts match what was released by the Assembly on Friday night. See an interactive map below:(Can't see the map? Click here.)This comes a day after Gov. Gavin Newsom launched what he and other Democrats are calling the Election Rigging Response Act at a campaign rally in Los Angeles. He and his office have stated for days that if Texas does not back down from its efforts to send more Republicans to Congress, they will attempt to counteract by sending more Democrats to the Lower House. California law does not allow politicians to draw districts, but Democratic leaders are hoping voters approve a measure to temporarily change that in an election later this year. The maps were put together by congressional Democrats and their consultants. An interactive map shared with KCRA 3 was on redistrictingpartners.com, which is headed by an elections expert and vice president of Political Data Inc., Paul Mitchell. A news release from Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas states that the California Legislature will consider three measures in order to call the special election:A constitutional amendment that authorizes the replacement of the existing Congressional map.A statute that contains the new proposed Congressional map for voter approval.A statute to call the special election, appropriate funding for election administration, and make conforming changes to election calendars.Rivas' office also shared a timeline for the next week as legislators work to officially call for a special election:Monday, Aug. 18: Legislation put into print in the Assembly and SenateTuesday, Aug. 19: Assembly and Senate Elections Committees hear legislationWednesday, Aug. 20: Assembly Appropriations Committee hears legislationThursday, Aug. 21: Anticipated floor votes in both Assembly and SenateFull submitted map What does California's congressional district map look like?California currently has 52 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrats hold 43 of them, while Republicans have nine.The five California Republicans targeted by the redistricting plan include Representatives Doug LaMalfa in District 1, Kevin Kiley in District 3, David Valadao in District 22, Ken Calvert in District 41, and Darrell Issa in District 48.According to the submitted map, it shows that LaMalfa's inland rural district would remove many of his Republican North State constituents and stretch west to encompass more Democratic voters along the coast. "If you want to know what’s wrong with these maps — just take a look at them," LaMalfa said in a statement Friday. "How on earth does Modoc County on the Nevada and Oregon Border have any common interest with Marin County and the Golden Gate Bridge? Voters took this power from Sacramento for just this reason. This is naked politics at its worst."Kiley's redrawn map includes parts of Democratic-leaning Sacramento County and removes a large swath of the Eastern Sierra."Make no mistake, I will win reelection to the House regardless of the proposed changes to my district," Kiley said Friday. "I fully expect that the beautiful 3rd District will remain exactly as it is. We will defeat Newsom's sham initiative and vindicate the will of California voters." A source familiar with District 6 Congressman Ami Bera's thinking said Bera is now exploring all of his options to keep representing the Sacramento region, including potentially running for District 3 if the new maps are approved."I have had the honor of representing the Sacramento region in Congress since 2013. I intend to continue representing the Sacramento region in the next Congress," Bera said. "Right now, we must stop Donald Trump and Texas Republicans from gerrymandering their way to a House majority in 2026. I look forward to supporting this ballot initiative to level the playing field and fight back against Donald Trump’s destructive agenda."The act of intentionally redrawing district lines to favor a specific political party is known as gerrymandering, which is typically something not publicly boasted about. But with President Donald Trump's request to have Texas send five more Republicans to the U.S. House of Representatives, Democratic California leaders, including Newsom, have been more open about "fighting fire with fire."Kiley has decried gerrymandering and proposed legislation that would invalidate mid-decade redistricting efforts. Redistricting is normally done every 10 years after a U.S. Census.If California lawmakers can complete the plan by Aug. 22 for a special election, voters would be asked on Nov. 4 to approve this map that would take effect for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections if Texas or another Republican state redistricts before the end of this decade. Since two ballot initiatives in 2008 and 2010 were approved, California's redistricting process has been done by a citizen-led independent commission.Related video below — Get the Facts: Redistricting or gerrymandering?Lindsay Weber contributed to this report.

The California Assembly on Friday released a proposed map of new congressional districts that voters would weigh in on a special election, if approved by the state legislature next week.

See a breakdown of the map in the video above

KCRA 3 first obtained the maps earlier Friday, which were submitted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to the California Legislature.

Documents obtained by KCRA 3 show a 60-page presentation of the proposed map. The presentation also includes a letter by Julie Merz, executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. .

"We anticipate this proposal will have widespread support both among California office holders and various stakeholders across the state," Merz said in a statement on Friday.

The leaked drafts match what was released by the Assembly on Friday night.

See an interactive map below:

(Can't see the map? )

This comes a day after Gov. Gavin Newsom launched what he and other Democrats are calling the Election Rigging Response Act at a campaign rally in Los Angeles. He and his office have stated for days that if Texas does not back down from its efforts to send more Republicans to Congress, they will attempt to counteract by sending more Democrats to the Lower House. California law does not allow politicians to draw districts, but Democratic leaders are hoping voters approve a measure to temporarily change that in an election later this year.

The maps were put together by congressional Democrats and their consultants. An interactive map shared with KCRA 3 was on redistrictingpartners.com, which is headed by an elections expert and vice president of Political Data Inc., Paul Mitchell.

A news release from Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas states that the California Legislature will consider three measures in order to call the special election:

A constitutional amendment that authorizes the replacement of the existing Congressional map.
A statute that contains the new proposed Congressional map for voter approval.
A statute to call the special election, appropriate funding for election administration, and make conforming changes to election calendars.

Rivas' office also shared a timeline for the next week as legislators work to officially call for a special election:

Monday, Aug. 18: Legislation put into print in the Assembly and Senate
Tuesday, Aug. 19: Assembly and Senate Elections Committees hear legislation
Wednesday, Aug. 20: Assembly Appropriations Committee hears legislation
Thursday, Aug. 21: Anticipated floor votes in both Assembly and Senate

Full submitted map

LEAKED DRAFT | Maps show how California's redrawn congressional lines could look

Sources close to redistricting plan

What does California's congressional district map look like?

California currently has 52 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrats hold 43 of them, while Republicans have nine.

The five California Republicans targeted by the redistricting plan include Representatives Doug LaMalfa in District 1, Kevin Kiley in District 3, David Valadao in District 22, Ken Calvert in District 41, and Darrell Issa in District 48.

According to the submitted map, it shows that LaMalfa's inland rural district would remove many of his Republican North State constituents and stretch west to encompass more Democratic voters along the coast.

"If you want to know what’s wrong with these maps — just take a look at them," LaMalfa said in a statement Friday. "How on earth does Modoc County on the Nevada and Oregon Border have any common interest with Marin County and the Golden Gate Bridge? Voters took this power from Sacramento for just this reason. This is naked politics at its worst."

Kiley's redrawn map includes parts of Democratic-leaning Sacramento County and removes a large swath of the Eastern Sierra.

"Make no mistake, I will win reelection to the House regardless of the proposed changes to my district," Kiley said Friday. "I fully expect that the beautiful 3rd District will remain exactly as it is. We will defeat Newsom's sham initiative and vindicate the will of California voters."

A source familiar with District 6 Congressman Ami Bera's thinking said Bera is now exploring all of his options to keep representing the Sacramento region, including potentially running for District 3 if the new maps are approved.

"I have had the honor of representing the Sacramento region in Congress since 2013. I intend to continue representing the Sacramento region in the next Congress," Bera said. "Right now, we must stop Donald Trump and Texas Republicans from gerrymandering their way to a House majority in 2026. I look forward to supporting this ballot initiative to level the playing field and fight back against Donald Trump’s destructive agenda."

The act of intentionally redrawing district lines to favor a specific political party is known as gerrymandering, which is typically something not publicly boasted about. But with President Donald Trump's request to have Texas send five more Republicans to the U.S. House of Representatives, Democratic California leaders, including Newsom, have been more open about "fighting fire with fire."

Kiley has decried gerrymandering and proposed legislation that would invalidate mid-decade redistricting efforts. Redistricting is normally done every 10 years after a U.S. Census.

If California lawmakers can complete the plan by Aug. 22 for a special election, voters would be asked on Nov. 4 to approve this map that would take effect for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections if Texas or another Republican state redistricts before the end of this decade. Since two ballot initiatives in 2008 and 2010 were approved, California's redistricting process has been done by a citizen-led independent commission.

Related video below — Get the Facts: Redistricting or gerrymandering?

Lindsay Weber contributed to this report.

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