SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KGO) — The Democrat-dominated California Legislature is advancing Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting package on Wednesday, but lawmakers still don’t know how much the special election will ultimately cost the state.
The proposal would put new congressional maps before voters in November, which are designed to oust at least five of California’s nine Republican members of Congress. Democrats say the effort is a necessary counter to Republican-led gerrymandering in Texas, while GOP lawmakers in California have blasted the plan as an abuse of power.
Cost of a special election sparks partisan clash
In hearings Wednesday, Republicans pressed Democrats for a clear price tag on running the statewide special election.
Bill analyses of the proposals provided few details about the cost, saying the special election would cost somewhere in the “low millions” of dollars.
“No one has time to figure this out, where the money is going to come from,” said Asm. Dianne Dixon, R-Newport Beach.
RELATED: CA Supreme Court denies Republicans’ request to intervene in Newsom’s redistricting plan
Finance officials told the Assembly Appropriations Committee they were still working on the numbers with the California Secretary of State’s office.
“This is a very developing issue that we will continue to look at as developments occur,” said Millie Yan of the Department of Finance.
ABC7 News asked Appropriations Chair Asm. Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, when California taxpayers will get an official cost estimate for the special election.
It’s unclear who will foot the bill, since the Legislature has not earmarked funds or identified an official estimated cost. Wicks suggested California counties will have to pay now and get reimbursed later.
“The estimates are $230 million,” Wicks said. “We will continue to work through those numbers. We’re going to make sure that counties are made whole, that our election officials are made whole as they implement this.”
Asm. David Tangipa, R-Fresno, said some of the counties he represents might not be able to foot the bill without state assistance.
“Some of my counties just this past year have had to reduce their budgets because they can’t afford the state (election) mandates,” he said. “I haven’t gotten a single answer on how the money’s going to get there, how much money is actually needed, and where are the cost estimates? All I’m asking for is, can we do this, and do we have funds with a projected deficit next year?”
RELATED: Texas House approves new congressional map that favors Republicans in 2026 midterms
Wicks and other Democrats are defending the price guesstimate as a worthwhile expenditure for “defending democracy.”
“If we’re talking about the cost of a special election versus the cost of our democracy, or the cost that Californians are already paying to subsidize this corrupt administration, those costs seem well worth paying in this moment,” said Asm. Isaac Bryan, D-Culver City.
California’s last statewide special election for the failed 2021 recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom cost the state about $200 million.
Earlier this year, the state had to make sweeping cuts to its budget in the face of a $12 billion budget shortfall, with California expected to face a similar deficit in the years to come.
Floor votes on redistricting legislation expected Thursday
The Assembly and Senate are expected to gavel in at 9 a.m. Thursday, when lawmakers will debate and vote on Newsom’s redistricting package. Lawmakers face a rough Friday deadline to pass the three-bill package in order to meet federal timeline guidance for setting up special elections, according to the Secretary of State’s office.
Republicans, who are in the super-minority, are expected to try procedural delays. Newsom said he is confident the bills will pass.
“They’re gonna get the job done tomorrow,” the governor told reporters on a Democratic National Committee call.
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