Outgoing Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-Calif.), who left the Republican Party earlier this year over gerrymandering concerns, is pressing lawmakers to address partisan redistricting, which he describes as a "plague" on the democratic process.
"I doubt the two sides will end this plague on our democracy anytime soon. But reasonable people of both parties should at least be working on a solution for after the next Census," Kiley wrote Wednesday on X.
The independent congressman's remarks come after his defeat in California's 6th Congressional District, where he trailed Democrat Richard Pan by more than 18 points with 81% of votes counted, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ). Pan, a physician and former state senator, is projected to win the seat.
Redistricting wars intensify
Kiley has been among the most outspoken critics of gerrymandering as both parties pursued aggressive redraws ahead of the midterms. Republicans in Texas approved a map favoring GOP candidates, prompting California to respond with new boundaries tilted toward Democrats. The changes shifted five additional House seats in Democrats' favor, though Ballotpedia found the 6th District itself became slightly less Democratic under the new map.
These partisan maneuvers largely backfired for Republicans, contributing to significant losses in November as Democrats captured both chambers of Congress, flipping GOP-held seats in Texas, Kansas, South Carolina, Maine, and Iowa.
In some states, the new maps diluted conservative votes in traditionally red areas, with the effects most visible in Texas, Ohio, and North Carolina. Democratic incumbents largely held their ground, and in several cases, the maps inadvertently weakened Republican positions.
Criticism and praise
Kiley was blunt in his assessment of the Texas map, writing, "It's clear the Texas redistricting scheme accomplished nothing more than giving Gavin Newsom an excuse to re-gerrymander California (and perhaps contributed to Gov. Abbott's defeat)."
Conversely, he praised states like Indiana and South Carolina, where legislators "who refused to join the redistricting war actually saved their party seats." In both states, Republican leaders rejected GOP-friendly maps. A DDHQ analysis indicated those maps would have backfired, likely yielding larger Democratic victories.
Kiley's call for a bipartisan solution echoes broader concerns about the corrosive effects of partisan redistricting on electoral integrity. As the next Census approaches, he argues, lawmakers from both parties should seek a more reasonable approach to map-drawing.
For more on related political dynamics, see California's 40th District race and recent bipartisan efforts in the Senate.
