California ad wars heat up ahead of November vote on new congressional maps

Source: CNN Politics

PUBLISHED Sep 2, 2025, 11:16 AM ET


California’s redistricting battle has now reached the airwaves, unleashing an advertising blitz that is expected to grow only more urgent – and staggeringly costly – in the post-Labor Day sprint to the November special election.

On Tuesday, groups on both sides of the fight in California launched their first major salvos in the ad wars that are sure to dominate Golden State televisions and devices over the next nine weeks.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom will launch nine ads this week aimed at convincing voters to back new congressional districts drawn to help Democrats win five more seats in the 2026 midterms. Newsom debuted the first of the ads – a pair of 30-second spots – Tuesday, and they will soon appear on televisions and digital platforms all over the state.

Meanwhile, an opposition group bankrolled by Charles Munger Jr., the son of billionaire investor Warren Buffet’s late business partner, announced its own television commercial intended to convince Californians to vote against Newsom’s political play.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/02/politics/california-redistricting-advertising