Lodi could be split into three congressional districts under California’s new redistricting plan. Mayor Cameron Bregman said, "It's about representation above all," and added that under the proposed lines, "there's no congressman that's going to give us the time of day." The maps, released last Friday, show Church Street and Kettlemean Lane as the borders for districts 7, 8, and 9. Republican redistricting expert Matt Rexroad called Lodi a "loser" in the redraw. Bregman said, "It would be foolish not to fight this," as the city may face challenges in securing federal funds for housing and homelessness, according to CBS News Sacramento.
California State Senator Jerry McNerney supports the redistricting plan, saying, "This is a fight that Texas and the president started," and noted that Lodi could gain representation from three congressional members instead of one. Local officials expressed concerns about city projects relying on outside funding. Bregman told KCRA, "If we don't get that funded by the state or federal government, we may not be able to afford that shelter, right? Or all the funding, additional funding that we get for transportation or our roads and potholes being fixed." The issue shows how redistricting could affect local funding and representation.
Responses from other state legislators and Congressman Josh Harder, who represents District 9 in Lodi, are still pending. Governor Gavin Newsom’s office referred questions to state legislators and did not comment on the map-making process. The Republican state legislature, which opposes the plan, has filed an emergency petition to stop the redistricting. Lodi residents are following the situation as their congressional representation is affected.
