California's Redistricting Fight Leaves a Congressman Without a Party
California Democrats carved up Rep. Kevin Kiley's district, prompting his independent run and highlighting the national redistricting war.
In Lincoln, California, retired feedstore owner Anne Smull faces an unwelcome reality this Election Day: she can no longer vote for Rep. Kevin Kiley, the conservative congressman she admires. Her home was carved out of his district and placed into a heavily Democratic seat based in wine country, a move she calls "sneaky and underhanded."
Kiley's district was split six ways by California Democrats, a retaliatory strike against Republican-led redistricting in states like Texas. The redrawn map, approved by voters last year, created five new Democratic-leaning seats, with Kiley's among them. Facing a tougher path to reelection, the two-term congressman left the Republican Party and is now running as an independent in the slightly Democratic-leaning district that includes his home.
Kiley insists the switch is not a political gambit. He argues he could have moved to a more conservative area and run in a Republican primary. Instead, he says he wants to challenge the system, pointing to his unsuccessful push for a ban on mid-decade redistricting. He continues to caucus with Republicans to keep his committee seats, a decision his Democratic opponent, former state Sen. Richard Pan, calls a contradiction. Pan told voters that Kiley was a "MAGA champion" and is now trying to distance himself from that label.
The redistricting has upended local politics. Placer County, a Republican stronghold, is now divided among three districts. Kathleen Crawford, chair of the county's Democratic Party, welcomes the change, saying it offers the first real chance in years to elect a Democrat. Conservative residents like Wesley Johnson feel disenfranchised, arguing that Northern California is controlled by San Francisco, Sacramento, and Los Angeles. He acknowledges Republicans do the same in their states, but laments that "you're just cutting out the little people."
Democrats in other states have pledged similar moves ahead of the 2028 elections, suggesting the cycle of partisan map-drawing is far from over.