Conservative activist Mike Netter recently claimed on social media that California Governor Gavin Newsom is orchestrating a "sinister redistricting scheme" to manipulate the state's congressional district lines before 2026, aiming to "eliminate 8 Republican seats." Netter, a co-founder of the Recall Gavin Newsom campaign, asserted that this move would allow "POLITICIANS to pick the voters – not the VOTERS picking the politicians." This accusation comes amidst a broader national debate over partisan gerrymandering.
However, California's congressional and state legislative districts are drawn by an independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC), established by voter initiatives in 2008 and 2010 to remove the process from the hands of the state legislature and governor. The 14-member commission, comprising five Democrats, five Republicans, and four unaffiliated members, finalized the current district maps in December 2021 following the 2020 Census. The state constitution mandates that redistricting occurs only once every decade after the decennial census.
Governor Newsom has recently engaged in public discussions about the possibility of California redrawing its congressional maps, framing it as a direct response to efforts by Texas Republicans, urged by former President Donald Trump, to gerrymander their state for partisan gain. Newsom has floated two highly contentious options: either the state legislature attempting to draw new maps mid-decade or voters approving a constitutional amendment to bypass or abolish the independent commission. Legal experts widely contend that any attempt by the legislature to unilaterally redraw maps would face significant constitutional challenges and likely be rejected by state courts.
Newsom's proposal, while controversial, is presented by him as a countermeasure to what he perceives as a "rigged" system in other states, stating, "two can play that game." While he seeks to secure more Democratic seats, the specific claim by Netter of eliminating eight Republican seats is an exaggeration. If California were to successfully engage in partisan gerrymandering, political analysts suggest potential gains of two to six Democratic seats, not a near-total elimination of the Republican delegation. The next regularly scheduled redistricting cycle in California will occur after the 2030 Census.