WASHINGTON — California Rep. Darrell Issa says he was asked by Texas colleagues to consider moving to Dallas to run for Congress after lawmakers in both states created a midterm scramble by redrawing congressional districts.
But in a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press on Friday, Issa explained why he's staying put — and urged fellow California Republicans facing tough new districts to do the same.
''I'm not giving up on California, and hopefully none of my colleagues that have been drawn into tough districts are going to give up. I'm hoping they all run and preferably not against each other,'' Issa told the AP by phone.
California Republican Reps. Ken Calvert and Young Kim have already announced they will run against each other in a new district centered in Orange County that merges parts of their existing districts. Republican Reps. Doug LaMalfa and Kevin Kiley, who were also drawn into more difficult districts, have said they plan to run for re-election.
President Donald Trump sparked the nationwide redistricting battle by urging Republicans in Texas to redraw their congressional lines with the hopes of picking up five more seats. California Democrats responded by creating new maps designed to gain five seats for their own party, an effort approved by voters. Other states have since followed, but federal courts have blocked or altered some plans.
New congressional maps are typically drawn once a decade after the Census comes out. The next maps are due to be created in time for the 2032 election.
''I think that redrawing districts in between censuses is inherently unconstitutional,'' said Issa, who refrained from criticizing Trump, his close ally, for pushing the effort.
Facing tougher re-election odds, Issa said the Texas delegation approached him, noting that some members ''saw merit in almost the poetic justice of ‘We've created additional seats, we need to fill them.'''
