Newsom’s Presidential Ambitions Violate the Constitution and Will of Voters
California Democrats, led by Governor Newsom, plan to call a special election on November 4, 2025 to throw out the voter-approved redistricting process in favor of a gerrymandered Congressional map. Proposed changes to Sacramento County congressional districts are substantial, padding Democrat seats while removing Republicans from the districts of Newsom’s adversaries – like Rep. Kevin Kiley. If approved by voters in the special election, the maps would be in effect for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections if Texas or another red state redistricts during this decade. They have said that after 2030, the power to create districts would return to the independent redistricting commission. Based on their actions to make exceptions in an attempt to retake the House of Representatives, it’s always possible Democrats would revert back to partisan control.
While Newsom claims he is being transparent about creation of new districts, he refused to admit that he hired Democrat political consultant Paul Mitchell of Political Data Inc. (PDI) to draw the new maps. Voters did not have an opportunity to weigh in or suggest changes as they did during the independent redistricting process. In 2022, PDI kicked out all Republican clients, causing the CAGOP and all Republican campaigns to find new sources of voter data. They now only have Democrat clients – hardly unbiased.
The California Legislature returned to session on August 18 and without the required 30 days notice in California’s Constitution, they rammed through three bills to facilitate new district maps in three days. Other blue states, led by Governors who also want to run for President, are considering similar action. This follows the lead of New York that redrew their district lines after several losses in the 2022 Election.
Now officially Proposition 50, this measure tricks voters into thinking it is meant to restore the citizens redistricting commission. Of course, restoration would not be needed if they hadn’t proposed to dismantle it until the next census is completed.
Why does Newsom want to violate voters’ directive to keep politicians out of the redistricting process?
Republican states have watched over the decades as Democrats gerrymandered their states, disenfranchising conservative voters with highly biased districts created for their candidates. The main perpetrators include the blue states of New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon and California. Now, Republican states with large majorities, like Texas, are considering mid-decade redistricting to counter blue states.
Rep. Kevin Kiley, in an attempt to stop this madness, will introduce legislation when the House reconvenes in September to ban mid-decade redistricting in all states.
The difference between Texas and California is that the Texas Legislature is allowed under their constitution to submit new maps. Recent court decisions gave them the green light to use different criteria, while taking into consideration the large influx of conservative refugees from California. California’s constitution prohibits politicians from drawing maps and requires a citizen-led independent redistricting commission to do the work following the census. California voters took the power away from politicians in 2008 with Proposition 11 (State Legislative Districts) and in 2010 with Proposition 20 (Congressional Districts).
California: Anatomy of a gerrymandered state.
- California currently has 52 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrats hold 43 seats (83%), while Republicans have nine (17%).
- Democrats make up 45.3% of voters, with Republicans at 25.2% and 22.3% with no party preference.
- In recent statewide elections, California voters were in sync with the GOP for ballot measures on most key issues, including taking redistricting away from the Democrat politicians, every county in the state voting to increase penalties for certain crimes with Prop. 36, maintaining high thresholds to raise taxes, and defeating increases in the minimum wage and rent control.
Now California Democrats will try to remove five of the nine Republicans from office. The new districts primarily attack GOP Representatives Doug LaMalfa in District 1, Kevin Kiley in District 3, David Valadao in District 22, Ken Calvert in District 41, and Darrell Issa in District 48 while padding vulnerable Democrat districts. Each of these House members has been instrumental in pointing out Newsom’s failed leadership, especially Rep. Kevin Kiley who will be punished as more Sacramento Democrats are added to his district.
The ballot measure will be well-funded by unions and other special interests who are beholden to the supermajority, and their slogans will include anti-Trump rhetoric and, ironically, the need to protect democracy.
Newsom’s virtue signaling is simply meant to appeal to the Democrat base to make him relevant in the 2028 Presidential election. This is a desperate attempt to salvage his low-polling Presidential campaign, including cringeworthy social media posts emulating Trump’s successful communication style. But Gavin is not Donald Trump. Not even close.
Thankfully, polling is not looking good for passage of the new maps (36% support and 64% oppose), but Democrats will resort to any tactic to prevail. We will need all hands on deck to protect the current process from this punitive effort to remove the Governor’s chief adversaries and launch his Presidential campaign.
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August 21, 2025 Update: Special Election to be held November 4, 2025 for voters to decide on Prop. 50.
California Democrats have moved forward with their redistricting legislation, amending their own bill to remove the very reason they said they needed to take action. Constitutional Amendment 8 no longer depends on redistricting efforts taking place in conservative states. Their new district lines target Republicans who have been most vocal against Gavin Newsom, while padding districts where Democrats are at risk of losing in 2026.
The Democrat Attorney General will bend over for his party leaders to make sure the title and summary pretends to be about restoring the redistricting commission. Don’t fall for it. The Commission would not be in jeopardy had the Dems not brought us Prop. 50.
This blatant power grab is led by Governor Newsom who has been the center of a cringeworthy attempt to copy President Trump’s successful communication strategy. Problem for Newsom is that he’s not Donald Trump. He doesn’t have the record of accomplishment that Trump has, and he’s flip flopping his way into 2028, trying to hoodwink some voters into thinking he’s progressive one day and moderate the next. Trump is consistently America First, as he’s making us safe again, taking the lead on the world stage to stop wars, and bringing investment back to our country to restore opportunity and hope for Americans of all ages. Newsom’s policies have had the opposite affect, causing thousands of Californians to flee the state.
This election will be about stopping a power grab and restoring the redistricting process to voters. Newsom will try to make it about Trump to elevate his status, but it’s really about California, and those of us who have had enough!
The CAGOP has an aggressive campaign in the works to defeat Prop 50 and other nonpartisan coalitions are forming to make sure this measure goes down in flames. We expect Gavin’s campaign for President will do the same.
Republican Registration in Gerrymandered States with No GOP Representation
MA – 30% Republican
CT – 42% Republican
NM – 46% Republican
NH – 48% Republican
RI – 42% Republican
VT – 32% Republican
HI – 38% Republican
DE – 42% Republican