Communications on the California Special Election
What’s Going On?
On November 4, 2025, Californians will have the opportunity to vote in a special election to determine if the state will change the current makeup of its congressional districts. In late August, Governor Gavin Newsom signed California’s new redistricting plan after its passage in the California State House, with a draft of the new map prepared by the legislature. The new map is designed to increase Democratic party representation in the U.S. House of Representatives by five seats.
Governor Newsom launched this effort alongside a coalition of elected officials and organizations determined to combat Texas’s redistricting plans, which would dramatically change the partisan makeup of the U.S. House of Representatives. Unlike Texas, however, the California district boundaries cannot be officially changed unless approved by voters. This legislation requires a special election in November for voters to decide on a one-time override of the Voters FIRST Act of 2008, which transferred the responsibility of drawing Congressional districts from the State Legislature to the California Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC), an independent redistricting committee. If approved, the new maps will replace the CRC maps temporarily until the 2030 Census data is available and California’s CRC process resumes.
Impact on Philanthropy and Communities
As we approach California’s special election, we are reminded of the significance of fair representation and its impact on our sector and communities across the state. Redistricting is an integral part of our democracy as it determines the elected officials who represent us in Congress. In addition, the state’s decennial drawing of maps determines how communities are represented in public decision-making bodies across all levels of government. Thus, redistricting has downstream implications in education, health care, housing, and numerous other vital issue areas affecting people’s everyday lives.
How Funders Can Engage
We encourage all funders to support get-out-the-vote efforts that also invest in election protection. Special elections tend to have lower voter turnout due to a lack of awareness and off-cycle timing, so we must continue to recognize that community-based organizations play a key role in conducting voter outreach and education about what is at stake and mobilizing people to engage in the democratic process. Below you can find different ways for funders to take action around this special election:
- Fund Civic Engagement & Nonpartisan Voter Education
- It is critically important that California voters are informed on the special election, how the ballot measure will affect them, and when, where and how they can cast their ballot. Funders can support community-based organizations as trusted messengers to engage in voter education and get-out-the-vote efforts, especially as mail-in ballots will be distributed as early as October 6th, ballot drop off locations open on October 7th, and early voting centers opening in some counties beginning on October 25th.Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by November 12, 2025.
- Advocate for Federal Legislation to Prohibit Partisan Gerrymandering
- There have been a number of federal bills introduced to Congress to ban future attempts at gerrymandering and disrupting the decennial process of redistricting. Advocating for these policies helps build a stronger democracy for fair representation and agency for voters.
- Change the Narrative of Civic Engagement & Redistricting
- There is a misconception that civic engagement, the Census, and redistricting efforts are political activities. The act of individuals advocating for districts that fairly and equitably represent their communities of interest is not political. These efforts are nonpartisan and present an opportunity to increase community voice in government and participation in the electoral process to promote a representative democracy. We encourage funders to support multi and year-round civic engagement efforts that empowers voters.
Philanthropy California will continue to monitor this special election, the results, and its impact on our sector and the state’s communities. We seek to promote a fair and inclusive democracy and encourage all eligible individuals to exercise their right to vote. We urge philanthropy and civic organizations to help uphold and advance peoples' voting rights and support efforts to ensure that voting is accessible, safe, and reliable.