Schwarzenegger Critiques Newsom’s Redistricting Claims
Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has pushed back against current Governor Gavin Newsom’s assertions that the state’s proposed redistricting changes are temporary. He labeled these claims as “complete fantasy.”
“When he says this is temporary, I don’t think that’s the case. You know, the longest-running programs are often touted as temporary by the government. But let’s be honest: anything that’s deemed temporary—be it a tax or redistricting initiative—is likely to stick around,” Schwarzenegger shared during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” responding to a clip highlighting Newsom’s Proposition 50.
Voting on the proposition started last week, aiming to add as many as five seats to the Democratic-held Congress. This move is seen as a counter to actions taken by President Donald Trump in states like Texas, gearing up for the 2026 election. President Obama expressed his support for Proposition 50 just this week.
Schwarzenegger continued, “Fast forward to 2032 when the Independent Redistricting Commission should revisit this. They’ll say, ‘Hold on, we’re still gerrymandering in Texas, Ohio, and Florida.’ There will always be a reason to justify it, so I don’t think this is temporary at all; I think it’s a fantasy.”
In reaction to opponents of Prop. 50, Newsom commented, “Forget about the moral high ground.”
Schwarzenegger accused the redistricting initiative of being a ruse, stating that Democrats must “outperform Mr. Trump.” He emphasized, “It’s all about competition leading to performance. What they’re attempting with the redistricting commission is to manipulate district lines for electoral advantage, regardless of what’s actually good for the American people. The public is being misled regarding this entire process,” he remarked.
The former Republican governor acknowledged that while there’s a need for both parties to “fight” this issue, he believes the American populace is being deceived.
“If you’re genuinely advocating for democracy, why would you want to dismantle the California Constitution and start anew? It simply doesn’t make sense to me,” he added.
On social media, Schwarzenegger shared his views against redistricting via a photo of himself at the gym, proudly wearing a T-shirt that read “End Gerrymandering.”
Despite their differing views, Schwarzenegger stated that he and Newsom have had amicable discussions about these topics and have been able to voice their opinions without resorting to personal attacks.
