California voters have approved Proposition 50, giving the Democrat-controlled state legislature temporary authority to redraw congressional districts, bypassing the nonpartisan commission.

The move could create up to five new Democratic-leaning districts, countering GOP efforts in states like Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina to gain additional Republican seats ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, a likely 2028 presidential contender, led the push for the initiative, framing it as a way to check President Trump and protect Democratic control in Congress.

Democrats hailed the measure as a rebuke of GOP attempts at mid-decade redistricting, while Republicans criticized it as a partisan power grab, Fox News has reported.

The decision puts California at the center of national redistricting battles, with high stakes for control of the U.S. House.