How Central Valley districts will change in proposed CA congressional maps
With a potential majority on the line in the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrats seek key victories in the Central Valley — and California’s proposed congressional map may help them get there.
The party’s new map targets California’s 22nd district, served by Republican Rep. David Valadao. The new map, leaked Friday ahead of its official Monday release, adds a chunk of Fresno County farmland to the district. The redistricted region would be bounded on the west by Interstate 5 and encompass cities including Kerman and San Joaquin.
Democrats would build on their lead among registered voters in the district by two percentage points, comprising about 42% of such voters. The proportion of registered Republican voters would fall from about 28% to 25%.
Among other key changes around Fresno County:
District 20, served by Republican Rep. Vince Fong: Fong’s district would include a greater portion of Hanford’s northern half. His district would maintain a similar proportion of registered Democratic and Republican voters.
District 21, served by Democratic Rep. Jim Costa: The entire campus of California State University, Fresno, would fall under Costa’s district. Outside of Valley Children’s Stadium and Pete Beiden Field, the Fresno State campus previously fell within Fong’s district.
Farther north in the Central Valley, two blue-leaning districts would strengthen Democrats’ leads based on the proportion of registered voters:
District 9, served by Democratic Rep. Josh Harder: His district would dramatically shrink, losing much of its land to the neighboring 7th and 8th districts, as well as portions of Stockton to the 13th district. However, the remapped district would snake west into Antioch, a city in the East Bay.
District 13, served by Democratic Rep. Adam Gray: Gray’s district would still include Merced and a slightly increased portion of Modesto, but it would also absorb parts of Stockton from Harder’s district.
Fong’s district would remain one of four designated as “safe Republican” in a chart given to lawmakers and obtained by POLITICO last week. The aforementioned 9th and 13th districts would flip into “safe Democratic” territory.
The Sacramento Bee has prepared an interactive map for residents to determine if their congressional district would change.
Gov. Gavin Newsom called on Americans to “wake up” and oppose Texas Republicans’ efforts to redraw their state maps in their favor. Newsom and other supporters view the California redistricting plans as necessary for Democrats to reclaim control of the House in the 2026 midterm elections, coming amid pressure from President Donald Trump to keep Congress in Republicans’ hands.
Newsom seeks a Nov. 4 special election for voters to approve the California map. The state legislature returned from recess Monday, and it will spend the next several days reviewing and likely approving the groundwork for that election.
If passed, the maps would apply until the nonpartisan California Citizens Redistricting Commission redraws them in 2031.
This story was originally published August 18, 2025 at 4:10 PM.
