California redistricting fight puts Asian American political power at stake

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced a special election Nov. 4 seeking voter approval for a new congressional map designed to counter Republican redistricting efforts in Texas and help Democrats gain additional U.S. House seats in 2026.

“We will punch back”: The governor’s proposal responds to the Texas efforts pushed by President Donald Trump to maintain the GOP’s narrow 219-212 House majority. “Donald Trump, you have poked the bear and we will punch back,” Newsom said Thursday at a news conference with allies. The proposed maps would bypass California’s independent redistricting commission until 2030, requiring two-thirds legislative approval and voter ratification.

Newsom first revealed his plan in an all-caps X post Tuesday mocking Trump’s social media tone after the president failed to respond to his letter urging him to have red states call off their redistricting agenda. Interestingly, Border Patrol agents conducted arrests amid Thursday’s announcement just outside the downtown Los Angeles venue, prompting Newsom to ask, “You think it’s coincidental? Wake up, America.”

Why this matters: For Asian Americans — who comprise over 7 million residents in a state that holds the largest share of the nation’s Asian population — redistricting could significantly impact representation. Asian Americans account for large portions of several counties, including Santa Clara (37.9%), San Francisco (33.9%) and Alameda (32%). They also represent substantial numbers in Los Angeles (1,697,762), Santa Clara (819,560) and Orange (792,539) counties, with many living in competitive House districts.

However, language barriers persist as they experience higher rates of limited English proficiency than Latinos, especially among Vietnamese, Chinese and Korean speakers. With only 55% of Asian Americans eligible to vote, redistricting could either strengthen or dilute their growing political influence.

Early challenges: Resistance to Newsom’s plan has formed quickly, including from former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and billionaire Charles Munger Jr., who invested $12.4 million in the original independent commission. A new Politico-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab poll also shows that Californians prefer keeping the independent commission by nearly two-to-one, with 64% supporting the current system. Still, internal Democratic polling found slim majority support (52%) that grows with partisan messaging.

Lawmakers return Monday to consider placing the measure on November’s ballot.