California wants to put constituency reform to a vote

The Democratic governor of the state on the west coast, Gavin Newsom, announced a special election for November 4 - the day Californians are to decide on the redistricting reform. "We cannot stand idly by and watch this democracy disappear, district by district across the country, not just in Texas," Newsom said at a rally.

This was preceded by a move by the Republicans in the Texas state parliament: they want to redraw the electoral districts in their favor and hope to expand their majority in the national chamber of parliament in the congressional elections in November 2026. The Democrats then left Texas in protest and have so far prevented the necessary quorum for the vote.

Focus on the 2026 US congressional elections

The background to the political power struggle is the balance of power in the US Congress, the national parliament of the United States. Congress consists of two chambers: House of Representatives and Senate. The Republicans currently have a narrow majority in both chambers. In Texas, the Republicans are now seeking to redraw several constituencies. This could shift the balance of power at national level. The Republicans hope to take up to five more seats from the Democrats through the new constituency boundaries.

The Democrats in California now want to counter this with constituency reform in their own state.

Congressional elections will be held in November 2026 - as is the case every two years. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and around a third of the 100 Senate seats will then be up for election. Texas currently has 25 Republican and 12 Democratic representatives in the US House of Representatives. Another seat in a Democratic-dominated constituency is vacant due to a death and will be filled this November. California, meanwhile, sends nine Republican and 43 Democratic representatives.

Strategy of "gerrymandering"

Each of the 435 members of the US House of Representatives represents their own constituency (Congressional District). According to legislation, the districts should have approximately the same number of inhabitants. The basis for this is actually the census, which takes place every ten years and serves as the basis for determining the constituencies.

The targeted drawing of constituency boundaries is called "gerrymandering" in the USA. Both parties use this tactic to systematically gain advantages in elections, although Republican-led states in particular have played a key role in recent elections.