SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park), alongside Speaker Rivas and members of the Legislature, took a stand against President Trump and his assault on democracy.
California Democrats have introduced the Election Rigging Response Act to declare a special election for November 4, 2025. The legislative package empowers voters to approve a new Congressional map that will go into effect if, and only if, President Trump and Republicans follow through with plans to redraw Congressional maps to disenfranchise voters and rig future elections.
The Elections Rigging Response Act includes:
- ACA 8 (Rivas) – Authorizes new temporary Congressional district maps, only triggered by gerrymandering in other states, if approved by California voters.
- AB 604 (Aguiar-Curry) – Specifies the boundaries for the proposed new Congressional maps, pending voter approval.
- SB 280 (Cervantes, Pellerin) – Calls a statewide special election on November 4, 2025, for voters to consider ACA 8.
“Donald Trump has unapologetically targeted California time and again over the past six months - targeting workers who power our economy, targeting California’s best in the world UC system, targeting the healthcare systems that Californians rely on when they get sick. Realizing how unpopular these actions are, Trump and Republicans now want to rig our democracy to guarantee they remain in power," said Assemblymember Berman. “We did not choose this fight, we do not want this fight, but with our democracy on the line, California cannot run away from this fight.”
“Enough is enough. Trump and Republicans still have the chance to back away from their un-American power grab. California’s new maps will only go into effect if Republicans move forward with their reckless plans. As Californians, we do not bend the knee to those with authoritarian tendencies. If they don’t back down, California will fight back – and we will win.”
Assemblymember Berman chaired the Assembly Elections Committee from 2017 to 2021, where he was a leader on protecting voting rights and making voting more accessible to all. In addition, Assemblymember Berman led the Assembly’s efforts to prepare for the federal population count as chair of the Assembly Select Committee on the 2020 Census.
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Contact: Bermanpress@asm.ca.gov