Texas Republicans are undertaking a mid-decade redistricting effort designed to gerrymander their state to boost Republican seats in Congress — but one Republican lawmaker is introducing a bill that could scupper the effort.
On Monday, California Capitol correspondent for KCRA News, Ashley Zavala, wrote on X that Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) sent out a release revealing he intends to introduce legislation that would “stop a damaging redistricting war from breaking out across the country.”
The Texas effort has inspired Democrats in California, New York, New Jersey and Illinois to consider their own redistricting efforts. If California is able to redraw the lines, Kiley would likely be among those who lose seats.
In the past several decades, Democrats have largely been opposed to gerrymandering, with some states passing laws mandating a bipartisan, independent panel to draw the lines.
“Kiley plans to introduce the bill tomorrow, to nullify new maps adopted by states before the 2030 census, including any that are adopted this year,” wrote Zavala on X. That would include efforts to redraw the lines in Texas.