"Of all the Democrats who were triumphant on Tuesday night, perhaps the biggest winner wasn't even on the ballot. California's Governor Gavin Newsom advanced himself in the 2028 presidential sweepstakes by shepherding the passage of Proposition 50, an initiative that would allow his party to redraw the state's congressional map in their favor. With apologies to Pennsylvania's Governor Josh Shapiro and his state supreme court wins, nothing else happened in this year's voting that will more directly help Democrats in next year's midterm elections."
"If Democrats capture the House in 2026, they may have Newsom to thank as much as President Donald Trump. The ballot measure will likely drop the number of Republican-held congressional districts in California from nine to just four. Once seen as an uncertain and somewhat risky gambit, Newsom's ballot initiative prevailed easily, 64 percent to 36 percent. Gerrymandering, you say? To be sure, Newsom injected partisanship into the process for predictably partisan purposes."
"But he will tell you that Proposition 50 was a direct response to Texas redistricting efforts, which were aimed at squeezing more Republican House seats out of that red state. Trump has been pushing other GOP-controlled state legislatures to do the same, with mixed results. Fighting Trump is just what the doctor ordered in today's Democratic Party, especially now that progressives have tasted their first real electoral success since 2024. But Newsom went through all the stages of grief after Trump returned to the White House."
Gavin Newsom strengthened his 2028 presidential standing by leading the successful passage of Proposition 50, which allows Democrats to redraw California's congressional map. The measure is projected to shrink Republican-held districts in California from nine to about four, directly aiding Democratic prospects in upcoming midterms. Proposition 50 passed decisively, 64 percent to 36 percent. Newsom framed the initiative as a response to Republican redistricting in Texas and to efforts by Donald Trump and GOP legislatures to expand their House majority. The maneuver injected partisanship into the process and reflects Democratic appetite for aggressive electoral strategies after 2024 losses.
Read at The American Conservative
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