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U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) said any California congressional redistricting proposal should be considered as an “emergency measure” and only be in effect for the upcoming 2026 midterm election before returning to the control of the nonpartisan California Citizens Redistricting Commission for future elections.
Speaking to The Rotary Club of Hollister on Aug. 11, the 15-term congresswoman, who has backed national nonpartisan redistricting reform, said Texas’ move, backed by President Donald Trump, toward a redistricting plan designed to gain five more congressional seats for Republicans, had essentially forced California’s hand.
“We thought if we threatened to [redistrict] ourselves [Texas Republicans] might back off, but they doubled down and now they’re talking about doing it in Florida and maybe even Ohio,” Lofgren said. “We have to do this.”
Lofgren, who leads the California congressional delegation, said state and federal legislators are working on a redistricting proposal that would ultimately be decided by the voters, distinguishing it from the Texas effort.
“The voters have to decide this,” she said. “It’s not for me or any other elected officials to decide.”
Meanwhile, Lofgren, who represents San Benito County as part of her 18th Congressional District, said she promised Hollister mayor Roxanne Stephens that the county would not be affected by any redistricting proposal.
After the 2020 census, San Benito County was moved from the 20th Congressional District represented by Congressman Jimmy Panetta into the 18th District represented by Lofgren, which includes a chunk of Santa Clara County along with the Salinas Valley.
In other remarks, Lofgren spoke about the effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which she called the Big Ugly Law now that it has been signed into law by Trump, including spending cuts on everything from food assistance and health care to funding increases for immigration enforcement including an expansion of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) into the nation’s largest law enforcement agency.
“People can disagree and vote for whoever they want, but many people I’ve spoken to said they didn’t vote for this, to cut Meals on Wheels and things like that,” she said.
After Lofgren’s remarks, new Rotary President Bill Baker presented her with a 100th anniversary glass commemorating the local organization’s 100 years of service, along with other gifts.
Baker said this is the first time a congressional representative had made an in-person appearance at a Rotary event in the decade since he’s been a member, noting that Panetta appeared remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the Rotary has a commitment from 29th District Assemblymember Robert Rivas to make an appearance and is trying to line up an appearance from 17th District state Sen. John Laird.
The Rotary holds weekly luncheons on Mondays from noon to 1 p.m. at Paine’s Restaurant in Hollister.
About the Rotary Club of Hollister: The Rotary Club of Hollister is a service organization dedicated to bringing together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.
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