California Democrats on Monday formally introduced legislation to establish a new congressional map and bypass the state’s independent redistricting rules. The move comes as Republican lawmakers in Texas are expected to pass their own redistricting plan this week.
The proposal would significantly alter the political landscape in two North State districts.
New map links North Bay voters with the North State
Currently, District 1 — represented by Rep. Doug LaMalfa since 2013 — spans all or portions of 10 counties from the Oregon border south to Colusa County, and includes Redding, Chico and Yuba City. Under the proposed map, Chico would stay in District 1, but Redding would shift into District 2 and Yuba City into District 4.
The new District 1 would stretch from Santa Rosa through Chico to the Nevada border — a reconfiguration that would tilt the district toward Democrats, who would become the majority of registered voters.
Audrey Denney, the Democrat who challenged LaMalfa in the last two elections, said she plans to run again in 2026 if the map is approved. The new boundaries could also open the door for other Democratic contenders from areas like Mendocino or Sonoma counties, which would be folded into the district.
District 2, represented by Rep. Kevin Kiley, would also be redrawn in a way that leans Democratic.
The process has already drawn criticism from Republicans and some good-government groups, who argue the new congressional map wasn’t drawn or negotiated in a public forum. LaMalfa and Kiley have both spoken against redistricting on both sides of the political aisle, with Kiley authoring a bill to bar redistricting from happening in the middle of a decade.
Dig deeper into the issue
Critics raise concerns as expert notes legality of partisan maps
But Charles Turner, a political science professor at Chico State, noted that while racial or personal-interest gerrymandering is illegal, partisan gerrymandering is considered constitutional.
If North State district maps are redrawn, there could also be more competition in elections, Turner said. That’s because Democratic and Republican voting populations would be combined, with one group potentially holding only a thin margin. He said the process can unintentionally create a balance in politics.
California legislators have until Aug. 22 to decide whether to call a special election this November for voters to weigh in on the new maps. Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state will only move forward if Texas does not abandon its own redistricting plan.
Sarina Grossi and Sarah Bohannon contributed to this reporting.
