Newsom's redistricting plan is a power grab. But the GOP objections are rubbish

Los Angeles Times

8 hours ago

SACRAMENTO — One accusation hurled at Gov. Gavin Newsom for his retaliatory redistricting move against President Trump and Texas Republicans is that he's overriding the will of California voters. Rubbish.
The flawed argument goes like this:
Californians — once upon a time — voted overwhelmingly to ban partisan gerrymandering and strip the task of drawing congressional seats from self-interested legislators. In a historic political reform, redistricting was turned over to an independent citizens' commission. Now, Newsom is trying to subvert the voters' edict.
'It is really a calculated power grab that dismantles the very safeguards voters put in place,' California Republican Party Chairwoman Corrin Rankin said in a statement last week, echoing other party members. 'This is Gavin the Gaslighter overturning the will of the voters and telling you it's for your own good.'
Again, baloney.
Power grab? Sure. Overturning the voters' will? Hardly.
Newsom is asking voters to express a new will–seeking permission to fight back against Trump's underhanded attempt to redraw congressional districts in Texas and other red states so Republicans can retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives after next year's midterm elections.
First of all, that anti-gerrymandering vote creating the citizens' commission was 15 years ago. It was a wise decision and badly needed, and still a wonderful concept in the abstract. But that was then, this is now.
Just because a ballot measure was passed one or two decades ago doesn't mean it has been cast in stone. Would Californians still vote to ban same-sex marriage or deny public schooling to undocumented children? Doubtful. Circumstances and views change.
Second, that 2010 electorate no longer exists. Today's electorate is substantially different. And it shouldn't necessarily be tied to the past.
Consider:
PPIC researchers recently reported that 'partisanship now shapes the state's migration — with those moving out of the state more likely to be Republican and those moving in more likely to be Democrat. … This process makes California more Democratic than it would otherwise be.'
So, Newsom and Democratic legislators are not thumbing their noses at the voters' will. They're asking today's voters to suspend the ban on gerrymandering and adopt a partisan redistricting plan at a Nov. 4 special election. The good government process of map drawing by the citizen's commission would return after the 2030 decennial census.
The heavily Democratic Legislature will pass a state constitutional amendment containing Newsom's plan and put it on the ballot, probably this week.
It would take effect only if Texas or other red states bow to Trump's demand to gerrymander their congressional districts to rig them for Republicans. Trump is seeking five more GOP seats from Texas and Gov. Greg Abbott is trying to oblige. Republicans already hold 25 of the 38 seats.
Newsom's plan, released Friday, counters Texas' scheme with a blatant gerrymander of his own. It would gain five Democratic seats. Democrats already outnumber Republicans on the California House delegation 43 to 9.
Neither the governor nor any Democrats are defending gerrymandering. They agree it's evil politics. They support redistricting by the citizens' commission and believe this high-road process should be required in every state. But that's not about to happen. And to stand by meekly without matching the red states' election rigging would amount to unilateral disarmament, they contend correctly.
'It's not good enough to just hold hands, have a candlelight vigil and talk about the way the world should be,' Newsom declared at a campaign kickoff last week. 'We have got to recognize the cards that have been dealt. And we have got to meet fire with fire.'
But polling indicates it could be a tough sell to voters. A large majority believe the bipartisan citizens commission should draw congressional districts, not the politicians who they don't particularly trust.
'It'll be complicated to explain to voters why two wrongs make a right,' says Republican strategist Rob Stutzman, a GOP never-Trumper.
Former GOP redistricting consultant Tony Quinn says: 'There is no way to 'educate' voters on district line drawing. And Californians vote 'no' on ballot measures they do not understand. … It's sort of like trying to explain the basketball playoffs to me.'
But veteran Democratic strategist Garry South doesn't see a problem.
'The messaging here is clear: 'Screw Trump',' South says. 'If the object is to stick it to Trump, [voter] turnout won't be a problem.'
Gerrymandering may not be the voters' will in California. But they may well jump at the chance to thwart Trump.
The must-read: Newsom's decision to fight fire with fire could have profound political consequences The TK: Trial in National Guard lawsuit tests whether Trump will let courts limit authority The L.A. Times Special: Hundreds of Californians have been paid $10,000 to relocate to Oklahoma. Did they find paradise?
Until next week,George Skelton
—Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here to get it in your inbox.