Huntington Beach sides with Texas — and Trump — in the nation’s redistricting battle

Huntington Beach may join the brewing national battle over Congressional voting districts. The conservative City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to explore potential legal action against California over the state’s plan to put new Congressional maps before voters this fall.

Why it matters

Congressional districts are normally reconfigured every 10 years after the U.S. Census comes out, in order to reflect the shifting size and makeup of the population. But Texas broke with that tradition last month, forming new districts intended to improve Republicans’ chances for maintaining control of the U.S. House of Representatives in next year’s midterm election.

Democrat-led states, including California, vowed to fight back with their own plan to remake districts, known as gerrymandering.

Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom approved a plan to redraw the state’s Congressional districts with the intent of ensuring extra Congressional seats for Democrats. The state’s voters will decide whether to adopt the new districts in a special election set for Nov. 4. (Here’s what you need to know about all the political mailers coming your way.)

What's at stake

Both California and Texas’s redistricting plans are already beset with legal challenges. Now Huntington Beach is looking to possibly join the fray — essentially, on the side of Texas, not California. That wouldn’t be unusual for the city’s proudly MAGA government, which is already embroiled in lawsuits with the state over housing, voter ID requirements, and the state’s sanctuary city law, among other issues.

“Governor Newsom’s blatant attempt to revoke the will of the voters is unnecessary political theater and is contrary to the will of the voters and the spirit of the California Constitution,” Councilwoman Gracey Van Der Mark wrote in a request to fellow councilmembers to oppose California’s redistricting plans. She also noted that the special election is expected to cost California taxpayers more than $200 million.

Chances of success?

California Republicans have already twice filed suit against the state over Democrats’ redistricting plans. The California Supreme Court rejected both complaints.

What’s next?

Huntington Beach’s city attorney will report back to the City Council, likely later this month, on the feasibility of taking legal action against the state over redistricting. The council’s next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 16.

How to keep tabs on Huntington Beach

• Huntington Beach holds City Council meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 2000 Main St.
• You can also watch City Council meetings remotely on HBTV via Channel 3 or online, or via the city’s website. (You can also find videos of previous council meetings there.)
• The public comment period happens toward the beginning of meetings.
• The city generally posts agendas for City Council meetings on the previous Friday. You can find the agenda on the city’s calendar or sign up there to have agendas sent to your inbox.
  

Go deeper on the issues

• Redistricting plan relies on Long Beach overwhelming Orange County Republicans
• What you need to know about Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting plan
• California redistricting measure makes the ballot. Here's what you should know
• Stunned by that stack of redistricting mailers hitting your mailbox? Here are tips to follow the money