California often prides itself on being a model of democracy. Back in 2008 and 2010, voters pushed through amendments to create an independent commission for civic districting.
Here, the citizens are the ones choosing their representatives, not the other way around. According to our constitution, we aim to keep cities, counties, and communities intact when determining district lines, and all of this is supposed to happen in public hearings.
However, Governor Gavin Newsom appears to be challenging this framework. He crafted the new district map behind closed doors, without input from the community, resulting in the county being divided 16 times and the city split over a hundred times. This process has left California with no competitive districts. Voters today have their voices, but Newsom’s plan risks silencing them.
California’s redistricting efforts advance to oppose Texas-like strategies endorsed by Trump
This controversial move is estimated to cost California between $20 to $250 million. It’s ironic really—Newsom couldn’t allocate funds for Proposition 36, which aimed to tackle crime and had nearly 70% support across 58 counties, yet he found resources for this initiative that seems to defy our constitutional principles.
Newsom claims this is a temporary fix, but, frankly, I doubt it. History shows us that once measures are implemented, they rarely revert back. We’ve seen tax hikes labeled as temporary that ended up sticking around. The tolls on the Golden Gate Bridge, initially meant to be a short-term solution, also became permanent. I’m skeptical about the temporary nature of this redistricting plan.
And there’s more at stake. When the governor bypasses a system designed to prevent such manipulation—like what we see in Texas—he chips away at democracy itself. Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger voiced his concerns, emphasizing the need to avoid gerrymandering, which he referred to as “political evil.” He articulated that it undermines the choices available to the public and shifts the power into the hands of politicians. Schwarzenegger encouraged Newsom to support the Independent Committee instead of sidelining it.
It’s not just about congressional seats; it’s about the inherent principle that districts should be drawn fairly, representing the people. As one former chairman of California’s first independent district committee put it, the state should ensure that the wishes of the people are honored and that the resources of the independent committee aren’t compromised.
For more information about Fox News, click here
Click here to get the Fox News app
I back California Senator Kevin Killie’s democratic legislation aimed at eliminating midterm redistricting nationwide. This should be a coordinated effort with lawmakers like Emerita Nancy Pelosi to support federal regulations. California shouldn’t stifle citizen-led district committees just for short-term gain. Manipulating democratic processes for an advantage does more harm than good. When both sides engage in this, it diverts democracy from serving voters to reshaping boundaries for political gain. Two wrongs definitely don’t make a right.
Ultimately, democracy isn’t about winning seats through shrewd gerrymandering; it’s about earning the trust of the citizens and their votes. With our democratic future on the line, California should hold onto its principles rather than chase after temporary advantages.
