Newsom’s leaked California redistricting maps target five GOP seats

New district maps leaked online reveal Democratic strategy to flip five Republican-held seats across California.

The maps, which surfaced before their official release by the Legislature and first reported by the Sacramento Bee, show Democrats zeroing in on districts in the North State, Central Valley, and Southern California. The goal: make competitive seats more winnable for party candidates while reinforcing others already leaning blue.

The targeted GOP districts belong to Reps. Kevin Kiley, David Valadao, Ken Calvert, Doug LaMalfa, and Darrell Issa. If the strategy succeeds, Democrats would hold 48 of the state’s 52 seats in Congress—up from their current 43.

California Gov Gavin Newsom has called for Nov. 4 special election letting California voters decide on a mid-decade redistricting effort to make up for the potential loss of Democrat-held seats in Texas.

Here’s what to know about Newsom’s plan to redistrict California’s Congressional Districts.

Which California districts will be redrawn to target seats currently held by Republicans?

Documents obtained by Politico and the Sacramento Bee showed that at least five seats could shift to Democrats if voters OK the redistricting maps in the November election.

• Rep. Doug LaMalfa’s 1st District would move south and west into Chico, a region with more Democratic voters.

• Rep. Kevin Kiley’s 3rd District would shed parts of the eastern Sierra and pick up left-leaning areas of Sacramento and Folsom.

• Rep. David Valadao’s 22nd District would stretch north into Fresno’s suburbs, which trend Democrat.

• Rep. Ken Calvert’s 41st District would be redrawn from lean Republican to safe Democrat by including larger swaths of Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and La Quinta.

• Rep. Darrell Issa’s 48th District would shift from safe Republican to leaning Democrat by bringing in more voters for north San Diego County and the San Diego metro area, with higher voter registration among Democrats or Independents.

When will the special election for the Election Rigging Response Act take place?

Newsom called for a special election on Nov. 4, 2025, for voters to decide on the congressional maps before the 2026 midterms. These maps would remain through the 2030 elections. It would take a simple majority of voters to pass the redistricting act.

What do California polls say about redistricting proposal?

A recent POLITICO-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab poll shows that nearly two-thirds of Californians prefer to retain the independent commission, with only 36% supporting legislative control over redistricting. Newsom acknowledged the uphill battle but argued that “inaction is not an option” if partisan gerrymandering continues unchecked in other states.

Which California Congressional districts are represented by Republicans?

California has 52 congressional districts, nine of which are currently represented by Republican congressmen:

• Doug LaMalfa, 1^st Congressional District of California

• Kevin Kiley, 3^rd Congressional District of California

• Tom McClintock, 5^th Congressional District of California

• Vince Fong, 20^th Congressional District of California

• David Valadao, 22^nd Congressional District of California

• Jay Obernolte, 23^rd Congressional District of California

• Young Kim, 40^th Congressional District of California

• Ken Calvert, 41^st Congressional District of California

• Darrell Issa, 48^th Congressional District of California

These lawmakers said in a joint statement in late July that they’d “fight any attempt to disenfranchise California voters by whatever means necessary to ensure the will of the people continues to be reflected in redistricting and in our elections.”

“The Commission received feedback from tens of thousands of Californians as to their communities of interest, which shaped the current set of congressional districts,” they said. “Districts that represent the local communities that they live in, rather than the whims of one political party. A partisan political gerrymander is NOT what the voters of California want, as they clearly stated when they passed the VOTERS FIRST Act and participated in the Citizens Redistricting Commission process.”

Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@vcstar.com, 805-437-0224 or @ecentenoaraujo on Instagram and X.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California redistricting plan aims to flip five Republican districts