Gov. Gavin Newsom’s campaign to revise California’s congressional districts would split up representation from San Joaquin County, diluting the region’s influence in Washington, critics warn.
The proposed redistricting map would slice the county into as many as five congressional districts instead of two at present. The city of Lodi alone would be divided among three districts. Stockton’s lines would be redrawn as well.
“San Joaquin County is getting the brunt of this whole situation here,” David Cushman, county chair of the Republican Party, said in an interview. The county risks being “put with other cities that don’t have much in common here.”
Lodi Mayor Cameron Bregman said the plan denies the clout that cities like his need to deliver for their citizens.
“Lodi can kiss any and all federal funding goodbye, permanently” if the map is approved as proposed, Bregman told Stocktonia. “And to top it off, Lodi residents will still pay the same federal taxes but will reap none of the benefit” because of the dilution of influence.
The proposed maps were unveiled Friday as part of a push by Newsom and California Democrats to thwart President Donald Trump’s call for Texas to redistrict its congressional seats. Trump wants Texas to redraw it districts to try to increase Republican majority in the House by five seats. Normally, redistricting is conducted every 10 years to reflect changes in U.S. Census data.
The cross-party gerrymandering moves gained national attention when 50 Democratic legislators fled the state for two weeks to deny a quorum that could have led to passage of the redistricting plan. They’ve returned, and the plan in the GOP-controlled Legislature is going forward over their protests.
To counteract the GOP pickup of seats from Texas, Newsom wants a November special election to let voters decide whether to retool California’s districts. He wants to try to switch five California House seats currently held by Republicans to the Democratic column. Without the change, Newsom warns that Trump will maintain his iron grip on policies that Democrats oppose through end of his term.
In San Joaquin County, Democratic Party Vice Chair William Muetzenberg said there are national issues at stake.
“I value transparency and the rule of law. However, when one political party is attempting to change those rules to benefit their political power, then it’s important we leverage our power here in California to counteract these attempts,” Muetzenberg wrote to Stocktonia in an email.
Except for a patch in the south in U.S. Rep. Adam Gray’s district, most of the county is represented by U.S. Rep. Josh Harder. Though a Democrat, the Republican challenger in last November’s election, outgoing Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln, lost by about 10,600 votes out of 250,895 ballots cast. Lincoln has announced he is going to run for the seat again in 2026.
Cushman said he’s fine with the district as it is presently drawn. Though Harder won, he noted that both Trump and the GOP’s unsuccessful U.S. Senate candidate, baseball great Steve Garvey, carried the county. The seat could turn Republican again.
“People wanted our county to have one voice. Now we’re really having the carpet pulled out from under us again,” he said.
Plus, Cushman said voters generally favor having an independent commission draw districts, not legislators who will look out for their own interests.
Lodi’s Bregman said Newsom’s proposal would deny people their fundamental rights.
“Simply put, this is a power grab devoid of any thought of true representation. Wars have been fought for less in this country,” Bregman said.