Standing before union bosses, Democrat operatives and special interests in Los Angeles, Gov. Gavin Newsom called for a special election to overturn the will of the voters so they can gerrymander congressional lines.
Ever the showman, the governor promised a process that would be public and transparent. But the process of drawing new congressional maps mid-decade has been nothing but secretive.
Gov. Newsom wants to spend precious tax dollars to hold a costly special election to steal five more Democrat seats.
Let’s call this what it is: a brazen, backroom power grab by Gov. Newsom and Democrats in Sacramento.
This redistricting scam is not about fairness—it is about one man’s desire to be President. It is also about Democrats trying to manipulate the will of the people to grab more power.
Let’s be clear about what is going on: Newsom and legislative Democrats want to tear up voter-approved maps and shove through gerrymandered ones drawn by Democrat consultants for Democrat politicians. And they want everyday Californians to pay for it.
This is self-serving partisan gerrymandering, plain and simple.
It is a direct assault on our democracy.
What happened? The proposed congressional maps were drawn behind closed doors, with no public input, no transparency, and no ability for the public to impact the maps.
These lines were shaped by Democrat politicians and their consultants—some of whom stand to benefit personally. The public did not even see the maps until they were strategically leaked late on Friday, August 15 by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Political bosses and operatives across the country saw the maps before us. They may have even drawn the maps themselves.
So, who drew the maps?
It’s a simple question that was received by my Democrat colleagues with disdain, mockery and snark. They laughed and told me I was not involved because I am not Democrat-leadership. The author would only repeat, “The Legislature drew the maps.” But no specific name was ever made public.
In an earnest effort to get answers, I continued pressing. Who paid for the gerrymandered lines to be crafted? Which specific individuals were involved? What elected officials had influence? Do they stand to benefit from the new hyper-partisan districts? No specific answers were given. The public may never know. It appears that these new lines were carefully shaped by Democrat politicians and their campaign consultants, some of whom will benefit personally.
Not only were my questions left unanswered, but also the actual language of the partisan measures that would implement these maps was only made public one day before the Assembly Elections Committee hearing, providing limited opportunity for public review and feedback.
Nonetheless, over 16,000 Californians took time out of their day to submit comments through a website portal. That input should be acknowledged and read aloud. But my request to see and read public comments during the hearing was denied.
The governor and legislative Democrats are to spend an estimated $235 million of taxpayers’ dollars to fund their power grab—while Californians in the Central Valley still struggle to access clean, reliable drinking water and fire victims in Los Angeles remain unable to rebuild their homes because of permit backlogs.
It’s clear where the governor’s priorities lie: not with working people or the middle class, but with his own political future.
Let’s not forget: in 2010, then-Attorney General Jerry Brown described Proposition 20, which created the independent Citizens Redistricting Commission as a way to give redistricting power to the people, and take it away from the politicians who stand to personally benefit. Newsom’s proposal makes a mockery of that promise.
Overriding the Commission now is short-sighted and wrong.
We can and must do better. In a democracy, the power belongs to the people—not to the politicians, not to their consultants, and not to a Governor more interested in Iowa than Indio.
We deserve better.
Alexandra Macedo represents California’s 33rd Assembly District and serves as vice chair of the Assembly Elections Committee.
