Redistricting is, admittedly, a complicated political tradition. But, put simply, it’s a logistical part of the process that determines who represents you in elected office based on where you live.

In other words, redistricting is all about maps and boundaries.

And it’s certainly, especially this year, all about politics.

Gov. Gavin Newsom officially launched the campaign for mid-cycle redistricting in California with a rally at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, Aug. 14. Newsom said it would be up to voters to decide, in a special election on Nov. 4, whether to implement new congressional districts in the state for 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections.

The idea is a partisan one, an effort to favor Democrats in the state’s congressional elections as a way to counter similar, Republican-led plans elsewhere in the country to boost the GOP.

From how redistricting is defined to what the process typically looks like in California and what this means for you, here are some redistricting questions, asked and answered.

First of all, what even is redistricting?

Redistricting refers to the process that determines the boundaries for electoral districts for Congress, the state legislature and other elected offices, such as the State Board of Equalization districts in California.

More simply speaking, it’s the drawing of maps. Then, voters use those maps to learn, based on where they live, what districts they can vote in for certain elections, including the U.S. House.

Why are we talking about it now?

Generally, this happens every 10 years, after new census data paints a better picture of population and who is living where. States have differing processes for how these boundaries, or maps, are drawn, but in California, it’s up to a group of commissioners who draw the maps based on what is best for voter representation, not partisan politics.

But several states across the country are considering what’s called mid-cycle redistricting this year after President Donald Trump put pressure on Republican-controlled states to change their congressional boundaries to benefit the GOP ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Republicans now control the White House, U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, but midterm elections generally favor the party not in charge; that would suggest the Democratic Party for 2026.

How does redistricting work in California?

Like other states, it used to be up to the California Legislature to determine district boundaries for congressional and legislative seats. But voters changed that in 2008 when they narrowly passed a proposition giving that responsibility to a group of independent commissioners.

The 14-member California Citizens Redistricting Commission is made up of five Republicans, five Democrats and four who are not affiliated with the two major parties.

They hold public hearings and collect public input on maps. They analyze census data and geographic boundaries. And they consider neighborhoods, communities and minority populations when drawing maps, ensuring these types of groups are kept together in districts as much as possible.

What is Gov. Gavin Newsom proposing?

Newsom has called for a special election on Nov. 4, where voters will decide whether to redraw the state’s congressional maps for the next three elections: the 2026 midterms, as well as the 2028 and 2030 elections.

Newsom is billing the effort a “five-alarm fire for democracy.”

“We can’t stand back and watch this democracy disappear district by district all across the country,” the governor said.

Republicans are largely opposed to this plan.

“Californians have made clear that they want an independent redistricting process,” said GOP Rep. Young Kim, who represents communities in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

“Changing that for partisan reasons disenfranchises voters and degrades trust in our political system,” said Kim.

Why does California care about Texas?

California’s redistricting efforts are “triggered” if any Republican state moves forward with partisan, mid-cycle redistricting, Newsom has said, but the focus has largely been on Texas.

Trump is pushing Texas and other red states to redraw maps to favor Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterms. The president recently said his party was “entitled to five more seats” in Texas.

Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, has warned that Texas “has the ability to eliminate 10 Democrats in our state” should California “gerrymander.”

Texas, meanwhile, has struggled to approve new congressional districts in recent weeks after Democratic legislators there fled the state to prevent any action on new maps. Many have visited California and met with Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during the standoff.

What is gerrymandering?

Gerrymandering refers to redrawing electoral maps to favor a particular political party or group of people.

While gerrymandering is generally seen as taboo, or used perjoratively, it isn’t illegal. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2019 ruled, in a split decision, that federal judges cannot weigh in on disputes over partisan gerrymandering. The nation’s highest court, in 2024, sided with South Carolina’s Republican legislature in its drawing of a congressional district’s boundaries there, disagreeing with a lower court’s ruling that it was racially gerrymandered and discriminated against Black voters.

The term “gerrymander” is a molding of former Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry’s name with “salamander.” It was used by the Boston Gazette in 1812 in reference to a redistricting bill Gerry signed for state Senate seats that left one district looking a bit like a salamander. (Gerry later became a U.S. vice president under President James Madison.)

I’m not an elected official. Does redistricting affect me?

Yes. Redistricting, any change in these maps, could impact who represents you or who is on your ballot next year.

In this case, California is only considering redrawing congressional maps, not those for state legislative districts. So redistricting could change who represents you in the House of Representatives.

How do I even find my congressional district?

You can find who represents you in Congress — and what district you live in — through the House’s website.

Just input your ZIP code, and you may also need to enter your street address to determine your representative and congressional district.

By DÁNICA COTO and RIO YAMAT

VEGA BAJA, Puerto Rico (AP) — Tourists slipped into borrowed red polyester vests from the Puerto Rico supermarket where Bad Bunny once worked, grinning as they posed for photographs in the superstar’s old uniform.

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They listened intently as his former boss recalled how he loved classic salsa songs. “He always liked going to the parking lot to gather the shopping carts because it seemed that he felt free there and would sing,” said Delza Vélez, the head of HR at Econo, the supermarket.

In 2016, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio quit that job, leaving Vélez a note. Two years later, he launched his first album — and the singer known as Bad Bunny stepped into stardom.

This summer, thousands descended on Puerto Rico, where the singer’s concert residency in San Juan, running from mid-June through mid-September, has single-handedly boosted the island’s fragile economy. The prodigious son has elevated the global profile of the U.S. territory, singing about Puerto Rico’s turmoil and identity.

Visitors come not only to see him but to explore his island. Thousands have stood in line for days or waited hours online to snag a ticket for the reggaetón singer and rapper, one of the most streamed artists in the world.

A father and son with the same name, Eddie Villanueva, traveled from Switzerland for a full Bad Bunny experience on a $5,000 budget, including $40 tickets for a tour of the star’s hometown of Vega Baja.

A tour guide talks to visitors outside Parroquia Santísima Trinidad, where Bad Bunny served as an altar boy, in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)

“Delighted. Incredible,” said the younger Villanueva, 23.

‘No one can steal that’

Nearly three dozen hotels are participating in Bad Bunny packages, which include the concert and which have generated nearly $200 million, according to Discover Puerto Rico, an organization that promotes the island.

More than 48,000 nights have been booked at hotels at a time when visits dwindle ahead of the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. Concert organizers say 25,000 packages were sold in just one day.

Hotel reservations were 10% higher on July 27, compared with the same date last year. Short-term rentals are up 42% this month, compared to last August, and 61% higher for September. With up to hundreds of dollars per concert ticket, the show is expected to attract about 600,000 people.

Nearly 7% more flights were booked between July and September from the U.S. mainland to Puerto Rico’s main international airport than during the same period last year, according to aviation analytics company Cirium.

The windfall comes as Puerto Rico promoters focus more on its culture, rather than beaches.

A visitor on a guided tour poses for photos in front of a mural of Bad Bunny at Playa Puerto Nuevo in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)

“We can argue that they’re the prettiest, but they’re beaches. What makes us unique is the culture. No one can steal that,” said Ricardo Cortés Chico, a spokesperson for Discover Puerto Rico.

Doing it right

In Bad Bunny’s hometown, tourists visit his former high school, the supermarket where he worked — even the church where he served as an altar boy.

On a recent morning, the Villanuevas posed in front of a Bad Bunny mural on an agricultural supply store that sells harnesses for horses and feed for fighting cocks. For $20, they bought two caps emblazoned with “PR” for Puerto Rico, drawing a wide smile from the cashier.

G8, a nonprofit that helps impoverished communities in the capital of San Juan, launched a $25 guided bike tour called “I should have biked more” — a play on Bad Bunny’s newest album, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” which translates to “I should have taken more photos.”

Another nonprofit, Acción Valerosa, partnered with the music group Los Pleneros de la Cresta, which plays at Bad Bunny’s concerts, to create the “Café con Ron” tour, named after one of his songs.

They ferry tourists to Ciales, a coffee-producing town nestled in the central mountains. The tour includes a workshop on Puerto Rico’s traditional music, and the money generated will be used to convert a former casino into a community center.

A visitor on a guided tour poses at checkout lane 10 of a supermarket where Bad Bunny once worked as a bagger and cashier in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)

Even some university students are cashing in on Bad Bunny.

Longtime fan Julietta Dasilva is flying in from Denver for the Aug. 29 concert. She said she booked a $45 tour led by a local student instead of any of the commercial tours.

“I want to do it right,” she said.

A flag, a toad and a cash register

Traditional tourism in Puerto Rico meant a hike at El Yunque tropical forest, a visit to Old San Juan and a splash at a nearby beach. Now, people flying in for the concert drive to far-flung towns such as Cabo Rojo, the southernmost point of Puerto Rico, to experience more of the island.

“Thanks to Bad Bunny, a lot of our landmarks have become known,” said Ángel Rodríguez, owner of the Boquemar hotel in Cabo Rojo.

The hotel — located next to a famous dock emblazoned with Puerto Rico’s flag that was featured in a Bad Bunny video — has seen 7% more customers this summer, Rodríguez said.

Visitors have also asked him where they could see Puerto Rican crested toad, the island’s sole indigenous toad species that was featured in a video as part of Bad Bunny’s newest album. Rodríguez said he had to disappoint them — the creature is not easily spotted.

Heidy Crespo, who leads tours of Bad Bunny’s hometown, said dozens of people have signed up, with officials noting they have generated some $1,000 in revenue.

“I never thought people would want to see where he worked,” she said. “But I love it. I love seeing people’s eyes shine.”

A full experience

Vicky Galvez flew to San Juan from Las Vegas with two friends in early August, for the first round of concerts open to fans from outside the island. The 39-year-old hairstylist said the trip was much more than just a music event and that she felt good about the roughly $2,450 she spent.

A visitor on a guided tour holds a photo of Bad Bunny outside Juan Quirindongo Morell High School, where the music star completed his secondary studies, in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)

Around town, Galvez and her friends saw murals of the singer and lines outside eateries made popular by Bad Bunny. They ate at the cozy, family-owned La Casita Blanca, where the two-hour wait was worth it to support the restaurant, she said.

Their server told them that it has been “complete bananas” since Bad Bunny was photographed eating there. “I did shop local, and that was great,” Galvez said.

Wilson Santiago Burgos, founder of the travel platform, “Mochileando,” said he had doubted the government would hop on the Bad Bunny train because the artist has heavily criticized the island’s two main political parties.

But the opposite happened — tours were launched, food and drinks were named after Bad Bunny’s songs, and small businesses sold clothes and other handmade goods sought by tourists.

“People are starting to consume, to produce things strictly from Puerto Rico,” Santiago Burgos said.

The message is attractive, he added. Bad Bunny tells people who come to see him: “This is the homeland that I love … I invite you to get to know it.”

Yamat reported from Las Vegas.

By ISABELLA O’MALLEY

When Terrence Dwyer received a knock on his door and a flyer for a solar panel system small enough to fit on his deck, he was quickly sold. Solar systems that plug into regular wall outlets have been popular in Europe for years and are gaining traction in the U.S. for their affordability and simple installation.

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“We thought absolutely, let’s do this right away,” said Dwyer, who lives in Oakland, California.

These small-scale solar systems could become attractive to more homeowners now that President Donald Trump’s sweeping budget-and-policy package will scrap residential rooftop solar tax credits and may shift interest to cheaper alternatives. Even before the GOP bill passed, manufacturers of the smaller systems known as plug-in or balcony solar were seeing increased demand and other positive signs such as a new Utah law streamlining regulations for homeowners to buy and install them. The systems about the size of a door haven’t been as widely adopted in the U.S. as in Europe because of lack of awareness, patchwork utility rules and limited availability.

The $2,000 plug-in solar system installed on Dwyer’s backyard deck in March consists of two 400 watt panels, an inverter, a smart meter and a circuit breaker. It saves him around $35 per month on his power bill because he is consuming less energy from the grid, but he said reducing his carbon footprint was his primary motivation.

“We like the environmental benefits of solar and wanted to engage with solar in some fashion,” Dwyer said.

Had Dwyer opted for rooftop solar, he would have paid $20,000 for the system and $30,000 to upgrade his roof to support the panels.

Installing a plug-in solar system requires some homework. What power companies let customers do with energy-generating equipment varies, which is why prospective purchasers should check their utility’s policies first. Building permits might be required depending on the municipality. Some systems can be self-installed, while others may require an electrician. For example, some kits have meters that must be wired into a home’s circuit breaker.

Removing hurdles for plug-in solar

Dwyer bought his system from Bright Saver, a nonprofit company in California that advocates for plug-in solar. In addition to the type Dwyer bought, the company also offers a smaller model costing $399 that recently sold out in six days.

“The interest and demand have been overwhelming,” said Cora Stryker, a founder of Bright Saver. “It is clear that we are hitting a nerve — many Americans have wanted solar for a long time but have not had an option that is feasible and affordable for them until now.”

Kevin Chou, another founder of Bright Saver, said wider adoption of the systems in the U.S. has been hindered by utility policies that create uncertainty about whether they’re allowed and a lack of state and local policies to make clear what rules apply.

Some utilities contacted by The Associated Press say plug-in solar systems require the same interconnection applications as rooftop panels that send electricity back to the wider network. But Steven Hegedus, an electrical engineering professor at University of Delaware, said he doesn’t understand why a utility would need to require an interconnection agreement for plug-in solar because, unlike rooftop systems, they are designed to prevent energy from flowing to the grid.

Still, if in doubt, a customer should follow their utility’s policy.

During the early days of plug-in solar’s growth, some opposition from utilities is likely since customers are buying less energy, said Robert Cudd, a research analyst at the California Center for Sustainable Communities at the University of California, Los Angeles.

“Utilities really prefer everyone being a predictable and generous consumer of the electricity they sell,” Cudd said.

This year, Utah enacted a novel law supporting plug-in solar by exempting certain small-scale systems from interconnection agreements and establishing safety requirements such as being certified by a nationally recognized testing organization such as Underwriters Laboratories. It appears to be the only state that’s passed legislation supporting plug-in solar, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Republican state Rep. Raymond Ward, who sponsored the legislation, said the smaller systems allow people to better manage where their energy comes from and what they pay.

“Europe has these things. You can go buy them and they work and people want them. There is no reason why we shouldn’t have them here in the United States,” Ward said.

Bright Saver says they are lobbying other states for similar legislation.

Alexis Abramson, dean of the University of Columbia Climate School, also applauded Utah’s move.

“We actually need more localities, more states putting in allowances for this type of equipment,” she said.

Plug-in solar availability and savings potential

Some questions remain about how much customers could save. Severin Borenstein, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, said the cost of some portable solar systems in the U.S. would make it hard for customers to come out ahead on their utility bills over the time they own them. He estimates the price of a $2,000 system in the U.S. works out to paying about $0.20 a kilowatt-hour over a 25-year period, which only saves people money if they have high utility costs. By comparison, Borenstein said the cost of systems sold in Europe, typically around $600, is equivalent to paying about $0.05 or $0.06 per kilowatt-hour over 25 years.

Baltimore resident Craig Keenan said saving money was only part of why he installed one of the smaller Bright Saver models on his balcony in July.

“I’m interested in renewable energy because the amount of carbon emissions that we produce as a species is very, very unsustainable for our world,” he said.

He said he expects the system will save him about $40 per year on utility bills, so it would take him about 10 years to recoup the cost of the kit.

Keenan, a mechanical engineer, said installation took him 10 to 15 minutes.

“I think anyone can install this,” he said. “It’s not complicated. It doesn’t require a technical degree.”

Other companies selling plug-in solar kits include Texas-based Craftstrom. It has sold about 2,000 systems in the U.S. since 2021, mostly in California, Texas and Florida. The company’s basic kits contain a solar panel that can fit in a backyard or other sunny space, along with equipment to maintain and regulate the flow of energy including an inverter and smart meter.

Kenneth Hutchings, Craftstrom’s chief revenue officer, said their U.S. sales rose this year even before the passage of the GOP tax bill, and he expects demand for plug-in solar to increase further as federal rooftop solar credits expire.

The company advises customers to notify their power company before installation, but it has “never had any pushback from any utility,” said Michael Scherer, one of the founders of Craftstrom.

China-based EcoFlow plans to begin selling plug-in solar systems in Utah and expand to other states if supportive legislation is passed, said Ryan Oliver, a company spokesperson.

“This is an example of where technology is sort of ahead of the regulators,” Oliver said, adding: “As this rolls out to more of a nationwide product, we expect it will become more mainstream as people understand it better.”

___

Associated Press video journalist Mingson Lau in Baltimore contributed to this report.

The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

The legislation would have mandated a minimum wage for app-based grocery delivery workers for companies like Instacart. The Council says it is considering next steps, as advocates push lawmakers to override the veto.

Bags of groceries. (Adi Talwar/City Limits)

On Wednesday night, Mayor Eric Adams vetoed two bills, Int. 1135 and Int. 1113-A, that would have mandated a minimum wage for app-based grocery delivery workers for companies like Instacart.

“Now is not the time to do anything that will further increase the cost for New Yorkers of obtaining groceries, when prices are already too high,” said Eric Adams in his veto message. 

He says Int. 1135 would increase the cost of groceries for vulnerable communities like seniors, people with disabilities, and families that do not have access to “quality grocery stores,” and rely on deliveries instead. Adams said he remains committed to increasing minimum wage rates for app-based delivery workers, but not right now during a time of “economic uncertainty.” 

The two bills were part of a package passed last month by the City Council with a veto-proof majority. They would have required a minimum wage established by the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) for grocery delivery workers and extended other protections, such as insulated delivery bags and access to bathrooms. 

Advocates and the City Council criticized the mayor’s veto, calling it a step backward for New York.

“Without fair wages and protections for delivery workers, there is no sustainable industry, just exploitation,” said City Council Spokesperson Julia Agos. “It’s disappointing but unsurprising that the mayor is once again prioritizing corporate interests over New Yorkers and parroting inaccurate talking points to justify his actions that hurt working-class people.” 

Instacart has lobbied heavily against the bills, testifying last year that they would only increase fees for customers and commissioning billboard trucks with ads criticizing the legislation.

In a statement Thursday, Councilmember Sandy Nurse, who sponsored one of the bills, accused the mayor of aligning himself with “a multi-billion dollar company that refuses to pay their workers fairly.”

“By rejecting these bills, the Mayor will only make it harder for these predominantly Black and brown workers to feed themselves and their families,” said Ligia Guallpa, executive director of Los Deliveristas Unidos, in a statement.

Los Deliveristas Unidos championed app-based delivery workers in advocating for a minimum wage that was won in 2023, but only for restaurant delivery workers. The law left “loopholes” that excluded those delivering groceries. 

Guallpa said that the requirement helped boost the incomes of workers and created “economic security” as the demand for food deliveries rose. “Proving that these companies can afford to pay workers fairly and provide affordable value to customers,” said Guallpa. 

The Council says it is considering next steps, as advocates push lawmakers to override the veto.

To reach the reporter behind this story, contact Victoriam@citylimits.org. To reach the editor, contact Jeanmarie@citylimits.org

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