January 1, Californians Reject Newsom’s Redistricting Plans

Wyatt’s Take

• Voters want to keep politics out of drawing congressional lines.
• Newsom and Democrats are looking for ways to get around the people’s will.
• It’s another big-city power grab, plain and simple.

California voters are sending a clear message—keep the politicians’ hands off redistricting. Polls show folks overwhelmingly support the independent commission, even as Gov. Newsom tries to sidestep it to help his party.

According to a new survey, nearly two out of three voters back the commission that draws district lines, including big shares of Republicans, Democrats, and independents. Only about a third want to hand the job back to state lawmakers.

Newsom and Sacramento Democrats are pushing to throw out the independent map for one that benefits their party.

“[Republicans have] triggered this response. And we’re not going to roll over and we’re going to fight fire with fire, but we’re going to do so not just punching with the weight of the fourth largest economy, the most populous state in our union, the size of 21 state populations combined,”

Newsom said earlier this month.

Democrats control most of California’s congressional seats and want every advantage as red states like Texas redraw their own maps. The independent redistricting commission, backed by voter-approved amendments in 2008 and 2010, was supposed to stop this kind of political shuffling.

Now, Newsom’s latest plan would have lawmakers put a temporary amendment on the ballot this fall, letting Democrats put their map directly to the public. After that, things would return to the commission, or so the governor claims.

Newsom is set to reveal more about these plans soon, but for now, Californians are siding with the idea that fair elections shouldn’t be rigged by those in office.

Stay tuned, and keep demanding accountability when politicians try to rewrite the rules to keep their grip on power.

Wyatt Matters

Folks in the heartland know that fair play and honest elections matter. When politicians try to tilt the scales, it’s regular Americans who lose their voice. The power should stay with the people, not with those already sitting in the big chairs.

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