Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing a rare mid-decade redistricting referendum to bypass California's independent redistricting commission and allow the Democratic-controlled state legislature to redraw congressional maps. The move responds to Texas lawmakers approving GOP-favoring maps that could create five additional Republican-leaning districts and strengthen the party's narrow U.S. House lead. Some California Democrats briefly fled to Illinois to deny a quorum before returning. Republican Rep. Tom McClintock called the plan clandestine and predicted failure, citing opposition from groups like the League of Women Voters, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and shifting positions among advocacy organizations.
Newsom is pushing for a rare mid-decade redistricting in response to Texas lawmakers who, with the backing of President Donald Trump, just approved new maps that would create five more favorable districts to Republican candidates. Some Democratic lawmakers in the state fled to Illinois to prevent the legislature from having a quorum, but they ultimately returned. Republicans hold a narrow lead in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Texas Republicans are hoping to increase the GOP's chances of holding the chamber.
McClintock appeared on Saturday's Fox Report, where Jon Scott noted that Newsom said, Direct democracy that gives us a fighting chance to STOP Donald Trump's election rigging. That's a ludicrous statement, McClintock responded. The entire plan was drawn behind closed doors. The only reason the public gets to see the maps at all is that voters are required to bypass the commission and adopt them. I think that this is gonna end up being a huge headache for Newsom.
The congressman predicted that Newsom's efforts will fail. Already, liberal good government groups like the League of Women Voters are opposing it, McClintock continued. Common initially opposed it and then withdrew its opposition under pressure. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has impeccable credentials among independent voters, is campaigning against it. And also, I think Californians are tiring of Gavin Newsom. So, I think he's bitten off far more than he can chew.
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