The redrawing of California districts has sparked a political battle between the two parties, with the Democrats possibly gaining five additional seats.

The Sacramento Bee's front page reported that the California government approved a congressional district redistricting plan on August 21, 2025, aimed at adding five U.S. House of Representatives seats for the Democratic Party. The plan was passed by the California legislature and requires voter approval before it can take effect.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, announced the advancement of the plan on August 14, with a special election (scheduled for November 4) to decide the fate of the redistricting. This redistricting involves the 40th and 41st districts in Southern California, such as the 40th district's boundary extending to Menifee (the district of Republican Representative Young Kim), while the 41st district is adjusted from Downey to Lakewood (the district of Republican Representative Ken Calvert).

The California district redistricting is part of the long-term political struggle between Democrats and Republicans, aiming to increase their party's seats in the House of Representatives by adjusting district boundaries. This practice is known as "gerrymandering," which refers to unfair district mapping that helps one's own party win elections.

The impact of California's redistricting mainly manifests in the following aspects:

1. Changes in Political Seats

The redistricting plan passed by the California legislature aims to add five U.S. House of Representatives seats for the Democrats, increasing from the current 43 seats to 48, while the Republican seats may decrease from 9 to 4. This adjustment will significantly change the balance of power between the two parties in the House of Representatives, giving the Democrats an advantage in the 2026 midterm elections.

2. Election Strategy Confrontation

This move by California is a direct response to the Texas Republican Party passing a similar bill, with both parties competing for Congressional seats through district drawing, reflecting the deepening polarization in American politics. This "offense against offense" strategy may lead more states to follow suit, making district redistricting a common occurrence in future election cycles.

3. Change in Voter Representation

The revised districts will cause significant changes in the voter groups represented by current representatives. For example, the district of Democratic Representative Darrell Issa will add more left-leaning voters, while the district of Republican Representative Kevin McCarthy will lose a large number of registered Republican voters.

Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1841342607158284/

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