The Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC closely aligned with Speaker Mike Johnson, gave $5 million to Republicans’ anti-redistricting effort in California.
The group, dubbed Stop Sacramento’s Power Grab, is led by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and former California GOP Chair Jessica Millan Patterson.
The race is on to define Democrats Gov. Gavin Newsom’s push to amend the California constitution and allow the legislature to redraw the congressional map in a way that could net Democrats five seats. Spending on the California ballot initiative could top $200 million.
Newsom’s high-stakes gambit is in response to Texas Republicans, who have already passed a new congressional map at President Donald Trump’s behest adding five new GOP-controlled seats.
But Texas didn’t need to change its state laws in order to do a mid-decade redistricting. California has an independent commission that’s in charge of drawing the state’s congressional maps. California Democrats are now banking on voters approving their plans to gerrymander in response. The election is on Nov. 4.
Democrats are ramping up their own redistricting messaging in California, too. Newsom has given money to the effort, and House Majority PAC, the super PAC aligned with House Democratic leadership, is also funding it.
