LOS ANGELES — Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic leaders urged Californians to approve a November special election measure that would allow temporary midterm redistricting of congressional maps in 2026, 2028 and 2030.

The measure, Newsom said, would be placed before voters on Nov. 4 and requires two-thirds legislative consent before it can proceed to the ballot. "We will be asking for the people on November 4 — a special election, coinciding with a lot of local municipal elections to provide a temporary pathway for congressional maps," Newsom said at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy.

The proposal is framed by supporters as a direct response to recent redistricting actions in states such as Texas, where officials are accused by California leaders of drawing congressional lines to entrench partisan advantage. "In Texas, politicians are redrawing the congressional maps so that they can choose their voters instead of letting voters choose them," said Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, chair of the state Senate elections committee.

Rep. Pete Aguilar, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, described the push as a defensive move intended to preserve congressional oversight and accountability. "If Texas and other red states wanna move forward with their partisan power grab to rig the elections, we cannot sit on the sidelines," Aguilar said.

Sen. Adam Schiff said the proposal responds to what he described as an existential threat to representative democracy: "You come after our votes in California and we will fight you tooth and nail." Sen. Alex Padilla urged voters to "stand up for our democracy" and to turn out in November.

Supporters said the ballot measure would be temporary and explicitly reaffirm California's commitment to an independent citizen-led redistricting process after the 2030 census. Newsom and others said the state would seek legislative supermajority approval before placing the measure on the ballot and that other blue states should similarly consider reforms to protect competitive districts.

Next steps: supporters must secure the two-thirds legislative consent Newsom referenced, finalize text for the proposed ballot measure and meet the filing deadlines set by state election law for a Nov. 4 special election. If placed on the ballot and approved by voters, the measure would authorize temporary midterm congressional redistricting for the specified cycles; California officials said they would continue to pursue a national independent redistricting framework.

Why it matters: Speakers tied the move to recent events in other states where lawmakers have adopted new maps they characterized as partisan. The backers — including elected officials and labor and community leaders — framed the ballot measure as a way to preserve competitive districts and prevent what they called efforts to entrench one-party rule.