Manipulation of voting districts by Governor Gavin Newsom for personal power gain, disregarding the interests of California citizens

California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a new ballot proposal aimed at rewriting the law for districting through 2030, granting legislators the right to redraw districts if another state does so. This move, however, is perceived as a bid to enhance Newsom's image as a strong opponent of the GOP, but critics view it as a waste of time and resources with no hope of reversing the Democratic Party's decline.

The redistricting drive comes amidst a significant shift in California's political landscape. Between Election Day 2020 and Election Day 2024, Democrats lost more than 2 million registered voters to the GOP. In the nine months since Election Day 2024, this exodus continued, with an additional 200,000 registered voters leaving the Democratic fold.

The high rate of emigration due to Democratic rule making the state unaffordable is a concern for many Californians. This has led to a projected loss of four House seats after the 2030 Census.

The current "nonpartisan" map in California, according to Rich Lowry, is skewed. Despite Republicans winning nearly 40% of the statewide House vote in 2024, they only garnered about 17% of the seats.

State lawmakers have unveiled a redrawn map that would move Democrats from 43 to 48 seats out of 52 total. This proposal, if approved, would require voter approval in a special election set for November 4.

Voters in California wrote state law to cut politicians out of redistricting and put it in the hands of a citizen-led independent commission in 2008 and 2010. Polling early this month showed that voters want to stick with the independent commission by better than 2:1.

The consultants involved in the redistricting drive in California are expected to earn significant revenues. Millions of dollars are being spent on nonstop TV ads trying to sell voters on this proposal.

However, the redistricting drive is not considered a serious solution to national Democrats' woes. Some even compare it to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Notably, there is no information about a Democratic candidate for the 2028 nomination being supported by a gerrymandering initiative in California. Kamala Harris, a prominent Democrat, has decided not to run for California governor and has not announced candidacy for 2028 yet.

Meanwhile, Republicans are suing to stop this violation of the state Constitution. The outcome of these legal proceedings could significantly impact the political landscape in California and beyond.