Welcome to the Monday, August 25, 2025, Brew. 

By: Lara Bonatesta

Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:

1. California Legislature approves congressional redistricting amendment for November 2025 ballot
2. The difference between total Democratic and Republican registered voters is the smallest it has been since 2000
3. Did you know that legislatures in four states—Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas—hold sessions every two years?

California Legislature approves congressional redistricting amendment for November 2025 ballot

On Aug. 21, California lawmakers approved and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed legislation to put a constitutional amendment on the Nov. 4 ballot to redraw the state’s congressional districts.

A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one legislative session to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot. The California Assembly approved the measure 57-20. All yes votes were Democrats. Two Democrats did not vote, and one voted no. All 19 Republicans opposed the constitutional amendment. The Senate passed it 30-8 along party lines.

Here’s a breakdown of what the amendment, Proposition 50, would change about congressional districts in California.

Changes

Under Proposition 50, California would use the congressional district map from Assembly Bill 604 (AB 604). AB 604, which contains the proposed congressional district map, cannot take effect without voter approval of Proposition 50. 

The proposed map would replace the existing maps, which the 14-member Citizens Redistricting Commission adopted on Dec. 27, 2021, for elections from 2022 through 2030. The Citizens Redistricting Commission would then redraw congressional districts in 2031.

Democrats currently hold 43 of 52 California U.S. House seats. Republicans hold the other nine. According to the Center for Politics’ Kyle Kondik and J. Miles Coleman, “this map would give Democrats a chance to win up to five additional seats. Three of their targeted seats would be fairly easy pickups, while two of them would be more like Toss-ups.” Reps. Doug LaMalfa (R-1), Kevin Kiley (R-3), and Ken Calvert (R-41) currently hold the former three seats, while David Valadao (R-22) and Darrell Issa (R-48) hold the latter two seats described as toss-ups. Click here to see the proposed map. 

Proposition 50 would also add the following language to the California Constitution: “It is the policy of the State of California to support the use of fair, independent, and nonpartisan redistricting commissions nationwide. The people of the State of California call on the Congress of the United States to pass federal legislation and propose an amendment of the United States Constitution to require the use of fair, independent, and nonpartisan redistricting commissions nationwide.”

Notable supporters of Proposition 50 include California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), former Vice President Kamala Harris (D), and President Barack Obama (D), as well as various other Democratic officials in Congress and the California state government. Notable opponents include former U.S. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R), former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), and Spirit of Democracy chair Charles Munger, Jr., as well as various other Republican officials in Congress and California state government. Click here to see an expanded list of supporters and here to see an expanded list of opponents.

Context

Earlier in the week, on Aug. 20, Republicans in the Texas House approved new congressional maps in an 88-52 party-line vote. On Aug. 23, Republicans in the Texas Senate approved the new congressional map in an 18-11 party-line vote. In a statement, Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott (R) wrote that he will sign it. We also covered the conflict in Texas in our Aug. 13 episode of On The Ballot. Click here to listen.

States must redraw district boundaries after every 10-year census. At least 12 states may change their congressional boundaries before the midterms, including those required to do so because of a court order and others seeking to do so voluntarily. 

• One state — Ohio — has a congressional map that is required by law to change.
• Two states — Georgia and Louisiana — have congressional maps that are subject to change due to litigation.
• Nine states are considering voluntary redistricting: California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, and Texas.

The federal government requires districts to have nearly equal populations and not cause racial or ethnic voting discrimination, but states determine their redistricting methods.

California is one of nine states where commissions draw district lines. In 33 states, the legislatures play the dominant role in redistricting. Two states use hybrid systems, where the legislatures share redistricting authority with commissions.

Click here to learn more about the constitutional amendment in California and here to learn more about redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterms.

The difference between total Democratic and Republican registered voters is the smallest it has been since 2000

Thirty states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia offer public information, including partisan affiliations, on their registered voters. Forty-nine states require people to register to vote. The only exception is North Dakota, which abolished voter registration in 1951.

Democrats have led Republicans, Independents, and other third parties in total voter registrations for more than 20 years, but new 2025 data shows that their lead is the smallest it has been since 2000. Meanwhile, Republicans have their highest number of registered voters since 2000. 

As of June 2025, Democrats have the most registered voters cumulatively, with 44.9 million. Independents and other third parties have 39.2 million. Republicans have 38 million. Independents and third parties surpassed Republicans in 2016.

The Democratic Party had its highest number of registered voters in 2021, at more than 49 million. The Republican Party currently has its highest number of registered voters, with more than 38 million. Combining all other parties and independents, the highest number of voters not affiliated with either major party was in 2022, when there were more than 39 registered voters in this category.

According to voter registration data from 2025, there are currently about 6.9 million more registered Democrats than Republicans—the smallest difference since 2000. The year with the largest difference was 2008, when there were nearly 13 million more registered Democrats than Republicans. 

The Democratic and Republican parties’ combined registered totals make up 82.9 million voters, compared to 39.2 million for independents and other third parties. The combined number of registered Democratic and Republican voters is about 68% of the total number of registered voters.

Of the states with available data, Democrats have the most registered voters in 11 states and territories, Republicans have the most in 11 states/territories, and independents have the most in 10 states/territories. 

To see Ballotpedia’s extensive collection of current and historical partisan affiliation data, click here.

Did you know that legislatures in four states—Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas—hold sessions every two years?

Lawmakers in those states convene only in odd-numbered years. In contrast, 46 state legislatures hold annual sessions. The length of those sessions vary by state, with most running for three to four months in the first half of the year. As of this writing, lawmakers in California, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Wisconsin are participating in their regular sessions. 

In all states, governors can bring lawmakers together for what are known as special or extraordinary sessions that fall outside their regularly scheduled meetings. The Texas State Legislature and the Hawaii State Legislature are both currently in special sessions. Texas’ and Hawaii’s regularly scheduled sessions ended June 2 and May 2, respectively.

Click here to read more about 2025 legislative sessions.