Legislation Proposed to Halt Mid-Decade Redistricting Amid Nationwide Power Shift

A Republican representative in the House is preparing to introduce legislation aimed at preventing states from implementing redistricting plans during the middle of a decade, which could significantly alter Congressional representation. The bill, proposed by Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA), emerges amidst discussions in Texas about a GOP-led redistricting initiative that might convert five Democratic seats to Republican control ahead of the 2026 elections. This development prompted California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom to warn that California could retaliate by redrawing its districts before the upcoming midterm elections. The legislation seeks to prohibit all states from modifying their electoral district maps until after the 2030 census, with a particular focus on California. Kiley's office accuses Newsom of attempting to overturn longstanding California Supreme Court rulings that restrict mid-decade redistricting and bypass the voter-approved Independent Citizens Commission. If successful, such efforts could threaten multiple Republican-held districts, including Kiley's own district around Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. Kiley stated, "Gavin Newsom aims to undermine voter choices and...