California officials at a state press conference warned that Republican-led attempts to redraw legislative maps midterm in several states could "rig" elections and said California will take steps to blunt those efforts.

"We're not gonna sit back passively hoping that somehow conditions align," the Governor said, arguing the state would act if other states move forward with midterm redistricting. "We're not going to sit back, and be complicit."

Officials framed the dispute as a direct response to moves in states including Texas, Missouri, Florida, Indiana and Ohio. A Democratic caucus member said California Democrats had asked the state to "lean in" and provide a playbook other states could use, calling the redistricting efforts not only partisan but also "race based" because they would reduce Latino and African American representation.

The Governor said the state will pay the cost of any special elections tied to these efforts. A county official had estimated the cost for a special election in Riverside County at $16,000,000; the Governor called objections to state funding "deeply disingenuous" and said "there's no price tag for democracy."

Speakers urged national action as well: one speaker called for affirmation of independent redistricting commissions and support for a national independent commission, and another urged passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act as an alternative means to protect voting rights.

Several speakers tied the map fights to wider concerns about federal enforcement actions and rhetoric. A speaker criticized what they described as federal deployments and tactics they said were directed at Latino and Black communities, saying California must organize in response.

Another speaker placed the redistricting fight in the context of economic strain, saying many Americans are working yet still "can barely get by," and arguing those conditions make voters vulnerable to demagogues and heighten the stakes of who controls map lines.

No formal vote or legislative action was announced at the press conference; speakers described coordination with their legislative caucuses and said they expect to pursue legislative and ballot options and to provide a playbook for other states. Officials also said other states considering midterm redistricting could do so as late as January, leaving the timing of any countermeasures dependent on outside actions.