Gavin Newsom’s CA redistricting effort will target Reps. Kevin Kiley, Doug LaMalfa
A chart obtained by The Sacramento Bee shows how California Democrats intend to slice up congressional districts as part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s campaign to offset Texas Republicans’ effort to pick up an additional five House seats in next year’s midterms.
The chart shows lawmakers intend to flip two districts in the North State currently held by Republican Reps. Doug LaMalfa and Kevin Kiley. Those districts, currently Republican strongholds that stretch across most of Northern California up to the Oregon border, along the Nevada border and down to Death Valley, would be considered “safe” for any Democratic candidate to win going forward.
Reps. Ken Calvert and Darrell Issa would also see their “safely Republican” districts in Southern California flip to lean more Democratic. The district of Rep. David Valadao, a Central Valley Republican who is currently under fire for supporting President Donald Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill and its cuts to Medicare, would remain a “lean Democratic” area, according to the chart. Another Central Valley district won by Democratic Rep. Adam Gray, who eked out a 2024 victory over Republican John Duarte by 187 votes, would flip from “lean Republican” to “safely Democratic.”
Other districts that are currently only marginally easy for Democrats to win would switch to being considered safely blue, including those held by Reps. Josh Harder, D-Tracy; Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield; Derek Tran, D-Orange; and Dave Min, D-Irvine.
Several legislative staffers confirmed the authenticity of the chart, which was unveiled during a briefing with lawmakers on Wednesday, according to Politico, which first reported it.
A spokesperson for the Republican Congressional delegation did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday evening.
The proposed district maps, which are not yet available, were drafted by political scientist Paul Mitchell, who has worked with Democrats on previous redistricting efforts. A spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, said they planned to publish the maps Friday.
The Bee obtained the chart hours after Newsom officially launched his redistricting in Los Angeles, during which immigration agents arrested people outside in a show of force by Border Patrol sector chief Gregory Bovino.
Newsom connected the redistricting effort, which has been alternatively criticized by Republicans and good governance groups and celebrated by Democrats eager for a fight with the White House, to Trump’s dismantling of federal agencies, heavy handed deportation raids and rolling back of reproductive rights.
Speaking to reporters after his campaign launch, Newsom batted away criticism, saying Trump had struck first by saying he was “entitled” to a GOP congressional majority. The governor had earlier this week asked Trump to block Texas and other red state from moving forward with their own redistricting efforts.
“We’re not waiting, and we’re not anticipating that these states will be passing, particularly with the directive coming from President Donald Trump,” Newsom said.
This story was originally published August 14, 2025 at 8:47 PM.
