Democrats in Truckee, California, are meeting Tuesday to debate a question on the ballot, asking voters whether they want the state to redraw the boundaries of its congressional districts.
Laura Fitzgerald/CapRadio
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Laura Fitzgerald/CapRadio
LOOMIS, California. This town of 7,000 people, mostly living in single-family homes, is located along a freeway outside Sacramento. People here are concerned about suburban issues such as traffic, rapid development and gas prices.
This is a red zone represented by a Republican in Congress. But Tuesday's elections will determine will Congress redraw the state? lines and divide the people here into districts that can elect Democrats to the U.S. House of Representatives.
“We want to keep our same communities together, right? And so if we get sucked into Sacramento or, you know, somewhere, we're not going to have the same needs, right?” says Amanda Cortez, a Republican who serves on the Loomis City Council.
Republican Amanda Cortez, a city councilwoman in Loomis, California, opposes the redistricting map on the ballot.
Laura Fitzgerald/CapRadio
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Laura Fitzgerald/CapRadio
The result of Tuesday's California election could determine not only who represents Cortez and her neighbors in Loomis, but also who controls the U.S. House of Representatives after next year's midterm elections.
The California ballot question is a reaction to Trump's redistricting efforts.
This summer, President Trump launched a national redistricting race, starting in Texas, to improve the chances of GOP candidates in 2026. Republicans in Missouri and North Carolina have also enacted redistricting, and Trump is calling on leaders in Indiana, Kansas and other states to follow suit. Democrats say the GOP is engaging in gerrymandering that is diluting the votes of black and Latino communities.
California's redistricting proposal, Proposition 50, would redraw the state's congressional map to help Democrats win up to five new seats. California's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom triggered it after Texas Republicans tried to gain an advantage in five seats in their state.
Republicans in California might pay the price. Mike Murray, another Republican voter in Loomis's 3rd Congressional District, says the ballot proposal would dilute the voice of his community by splitting the district into three separate districts.
“If we wanted to live in an urban community with the challenges and benefits of an urban community, we would do it. But we choose to live here. And when we choose to live here, we hope to have someone to represent us in our lifestyle,” Murray said.
Eric Schickler, co-director of the Institute for Governmental Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, says opponents of California's redistricting plan are concerned that it sidelines the state's independent redistricting commission, which has helped give their communities a voice.
“The main argument of Proposition 50 opponents is that the nonpartisan process that was established in 2008 for the Legislature and in 2010 for Congress has worked well for the state. It leads to more competitive elections,” Schickler said.
Democrats see chance to counter Trump's national agenda
But for supporters, mostly Democrats, California's special elections are entirely in the hands of Congress and the Trump administration.
“To the extent that voters care about vetting President Trump, you need a Democratic House to do that, is the argument Democrats are making,” Schickler added.
Cyen Samon lives in Truckee, California, near Lake Tahoe, a blue dot in the same Republican congressional district as the city of Loomis.
At a recent meeting of local Democrats organizing in support of Proposition 50, Samoun said redistricting is a chance to fight back against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
“I have a lot of immigrant friends from different countries who came out of authoritarian regimes,” Samone said. “You see patterns and you just don't want that to happen here, and I don't want people who escaped terrible situations to have to flee again.”
Samon's husband, Ben Woodard, says redistricting could mean local Democrats can elect a representative who will pay more attention to the needs of his community.
“A Democratic representative would do it,” Woodard said. “Look at our interests: You know, cuts to Medicare will definitely impact rural health care.”
Supporters of California's redistricting measure appear to have the upper hand heading into Election Week. This is a state with a deep blue electorate, and many voters view this as a national fight.
Laura Fitzgerald covers California politics for CapRadio.
