California officials unveil plan to counter midterm redistricting, say state will fund special elections

California’s governor and Democratic lawmakers said at a press conference that the state will pursue legislation designed to respond if Republican-controlled states redraw congressional districts during the midterm cycle and that California will pay the cost of any resulting special elections. “The state of California is gonna fund that,” the governor said.

The officials framed their proposal as a defensive measure aimed at countering what they described as coordinated efforts in other states to change district maps midterm. “This is not just about Texas,” the governor said, naming Missouri, Florida, Indiana and other states as places where officials are considering what he called “unprecedented rigging” of elections. He also mentioned a directive from former President Donald Trump and cited JD Vance as an example of out‑of‑state actions tied to redistricting strategy.

Why it matters: supporters said the measure would protect voters and the political representation of communities they say would be targeted by last‑minute map changes. A…