A redistricting plan that guts much of Stockton designed to bolster Congressman Adam Gray’s shaky re-election chances in the predominately agricultural 13th District may prompt a response from the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors.

The board Tuesday will consider adopting a resolution stating its “strong opposition to all mid-cycle partisan gerrymandering.”

It specifically opposes the plan going to a special statewide election on Nov. 4 that would carve up the 9th District represented by Josh Harder that currently contains almost all of San Joaquin County except Lathrop as well as rural south Manteca and rural south and east Tracy.

The proposed change would also remove most of Lodi from the 9th District and add Pittsburgh and Antioch to give it more of a Bay Area tilt.

The proposed county resolution notes:

*The $250 million special election would take place while “painful budget cuts” are made to healthcare, housing, education, and other critical services.

*The State so far has failed to put in place secure funding to cover county election costs. As such, it may take away $4.25 million from day-to-day services in San Joaquin County.

*To get the measure on the Nov. 4 ballot, Democratic legislators repurposed two existing bills instead of introducing new legislation that would have triggered the state’s constitutionally required 30 day public review window.

*As of Aug. 20, it is unclear who drew up Congressional maps, which would strip constitutional protections designed to keep communities whole and prevent maps from being drawn to favor political parties or incumbents.

In the case of the redistricting plan Gov. Gavin Newsom championed to follow Texas’ lead, it splits Stockton in half.

The board prefers the current maps — and future maps — to be drawn by the 14-member Citizens Redistricting Commission which is nonpartisan and uses an equity-driven process.

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 approved the new maps based on 2020 Census counts in order for the California Legislature controlled by Democrats can 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.

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