Make Your Calls 082025

call to action for August 20, 2025

Background

In 2010, a ballot initiative took redistricting power from the California legislature and gave it to a non-partisan commission. But, following the recent effort by Texas Republicans to squeeze out five more Republican Congressional seats in a mid-decade gerrymander, Governor Gavin Newsom declared that California would “fight fire with fire” by engaging in its own gerrymander.

Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the “Election Rigging Response Act,” which would place a redistricting proposal on a special election ballot for November 4. The proposed redistricting would go into effect only if states such as Texas pass laws to increase their already gerrymandered Congressional maps. It would not affect state legislature districts and would reinstate the non-partisan congressional redistricting after the 2030 election.

The California legislature faces an August 22 deadline to muster the two-thirds majority neeed to put the governor’s bill on the November ballot.

Here’s what you can do.

Call Your State Assemblymember

For many of us, our assemblymember is Mark Berman. If you are not sure who your U.S. representative is, go here.

Marc Berman | 916-319-2023 (Sacramento) or 650-324-0224 (local)

Call Your State Senator

For many of us, our state senator is Josh Becker.. If you are not sure who your U.S. representative is, go here.

Josh Becker | 916-651-4013 (Sacramento) or 650-233-2724 (local)

Sample Script

Hi, I'm a constituent from [your zip code]. My name is [your full name].

I'm calling to urge you to support Governor Newsom’s Election Rigging Response Act as a necessary step to neutralize efforts in red states to increase the number of Republican-controlled Congressional districts.

In the past, California has been a leader in non-partisan redistricting. But today Californians must oppose the Republicans’ power grab by temporarily bypassing the non-partisan redistricting commission and by creating additional Democratic-controlled districts.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Make a Public Comment

The California Assembly is taking public comments on the proposed redistricting maps. You can tell them your opinion on this form.

Sample Comment

I fully support the new Congressional district maps that are part of Governor Newsom’s proposal to pursue mid-decade redistricting. California must counter the unprecedented power grab by Republicans in Texas, as well as potential similar efforts in other Republican-controlled states.