Newsom’s Tension with Schwarzenegger Over Redistricting

California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) reportedly has not acknowledged his predecessor, Arnold Schwarzenegger (R).

Schwarzenegger, who is 78, has supported the idea of an independent committee aimed at preventing politicians from manipulating legislative maps following the census, a reform initiated by voters in 2008. This move was relatively rare, promoting a degree of transparency and reducing partisanship.

Currently, Newsom and his party are attempting to disband this committee to redistrict California’s 52 legislative districts, aiming to eliminate at least four districts held by Republicans.

Schwarzenegger opposes this initiative and is gearing up for a campaign to inform voters about the issue when it goes before them in a costly special election, expected to exceed $200 million.

In what seems to be a retaliatory move, Newsom has allegedly withheld Schwarzenegger’s anticipated induction into the California Hall of Fame, while inviting Schwarzenegger’s supporters to the event instead.

Attendees who chose to remain anonymous mentioned that during an event at the California Museum, where former staff from Schwarzenegger’s administration gathered, his name was inexplicably absent from the list read by Newsom, leading to speculation about the underlying reasons.

A spokesperson for Newsom, Bob Salade, did not confirm any details about the list, suggesting that the announcement of the inductees has been postponed until November. Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the California Museum suggested that inquiries be directed to the governor’s office.

The rationale provided by Newsom and Democrats for their redistricting efforts is tied to similar initiatives in Texas, which are motivated by a new Department of Justice opinion on racially-based redistricting. These Texas efforts, influenced by President Donald Trump, also aim to reduce seats for Democrats.

However, this competitive approach may backfire, as retaliatory measures from Republican-led states could lead to significant losses for Democrats overall.