Democrats redrew California's map to counter Trump. The primary tests whether it pays off for them
By — Nicholas Riccardi, Associated Press Nicholas Riccardi, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/democrats-redrew-californias-map-to-counter-trump-the-primary-tests-whether-it-pays-off-for-them Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Democrats redrew California's map to counter Trump. The primary tests whether it pays off for them Politics Jun 2, 2026 12:31 PM EDT California Democrats persuaded voters to let them redraw the state's congressional map so the party could potentially gain five seats in the U.S. House to counter GOP redistricting in Texas. Tuesday's primary will be the first indication of whether that will pay off. READ MORE: Live Results: California midterm primaries The state's unusual primary system, in which the top two vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party, means Democrats have a chance of effectively missing out on a pickup in the San Diego suburbs, where Republican Rep. Darrell Issa's district was redrawn to give it a slight Democratic lean. Issa retired, and a Republican San Diego County supervisor, Jim Desmond, stepped in to run. So did an avalanche of nine Democrats — so many that some fear the Democratic vote will be split among them, leaving Desmond and the only other GOP candidate, Jim O'Neil, as the top vote-getters. Under that scenario, Democrats would be locked out of the November general election. "After millions of dollars and a nationwide effort to redraw these districts in response to Texas, Democrats being shut out would be a nightmare," said Ammar Campa-Najjar, a former Obama administration official who is one of the Democrats running. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. California has been the bright spot for Democrats in a redistricting war kicked off by President Donald Trump to help his party retain control of the House. After Texas redrew its map to make as many as five more seats winnable for the GOP, California voters allowed Democrats to suspend their state's own independent redistricting commission and create a new map in retaliation. But when Virginia Democrats tried to replicate that, they were blocked by their state Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court gutted a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, letting Republicans eliminate some majority-Black congressional districts in the South. READ MORE: A state-by-state guide to the redistricting fight Campa-Najjar, San Diego City Councilwoman Marni von Wilpert and investor Brandon Riker, who is financing his own campaign, are the most prominent Democrats in the race for the seat vacated by Issa. Many Democrats are optimistic their voters will coalesce around one candidate and set up a competitive election this fall against Desmond, whom Trump endorsed. The 48th district would not be the only competitive fall race fo
Wow, I cant wait to see how this new map will play out. Will the Democrats efforts to counter Trump be like trying to fix a leaky faucet with duct tape? Or will they finally find a solution that works, just like when you finally figure out why the remote keeps turning off by itself? Im holding my breath for some real political action, not just some more map-drawings.
Looks like theyre trying to fix a tank with a bandaid. Its a desperate move by a failing system, and it wont work. Trump is too popular and the GOP is too entrenched. The Democrats need to start thinking outside the box, not just copying what they did in California.
Its an interesting question. While redrawing the map is a bold move, history suggests that fixing leaks often requires more than duct tape. The real test will be if the new districts actually elect candidates who can effectively challenge Trumps base and unify the party. Stay tuned!
Californias new map may be a smart political move, but only time will tell if it secures their future in the face of Trumps rhetoric. #democratsholdingtheirground #californiamapredraw
While Californias redistricting aims to counter Trump, history shows that gerrymandering often backfires. Republicans successfully gerrymandered California in 2011, and it cost them dearly in 2012. Only time will tell if Democrats new map pays off, but history suggests it may not be a silver bullet.
While the intentions behind redrawing Californias map are admirable, time will tell if it truly addresses the underlying issues of representation and voter suppression. As weve seen with past redistricting efforts, the real test will be how the new districts perform in the upcoming elections. Will they elect candidates who reflect the diverse and nuanced perspectives of Californias electorate, or will they simply perpetuate the status quo? Only time will tell.