San Joaquin County is proposed to be carved up to throw a chunk of Stockton as a lifeline for Democratic Congressman Adam Gray in the mid-term elections.
Democrats in the California Assembly released a redistricting map Friday that would alter the current 9th District to stuff Gray’s 13th District with what is the bluest region of Democrat Congressman Josh Harder’s San Joaquin County voters to bolster Gray’s re-election chances.
Gray in 2024 beat Republican incumbent John Duarte by 187 votes.
It is in the Democrats’ best interests to strengthen their hand in the 13th by grabbing a number of precincts that vote heavily Democratic. Harder was reelected in 2024 by a 9,001 vote margin over Republican Kevin Lincoln.
Given Lincoln is running again and he is a former Stockton mayor who has high name recognition in the largest city in the 9th District, the siphoning of voters from south and central Stockton could also enhance Harder’s re-election chances in 2026.
The Republican National Committee has identified the 9th and 13th districts as potential districts to flip in 2026.
Voters in a Nov. 4 special election would have to approve the new maps based on 2020 Census counts in order for the California Legislature controlled by Democrats to undo the current district lines fashioned by an independent commission put in place by the voters to take politics out of the equation in shaping district boundaries.
Harder’s district was extended farther into Contra Costa County to include Antioch and Pittsburgh. He also would lose part of Lodi in the shift.
The net result of the changes being proposed is projected to cost Republicans five seats in California, the same exact number a redistricting effort in Texas is expected to take away from Democrats.
If that occurs, California will have 48 members in the House of Representatives that are Democrats, and 4 that are Republican.
It would not change the electoral map, meaning Gov. Gavin Newsom, contrary to what some are saying, will not be making his path to the White House in 2028 any easier.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
