California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s threat to push for mid-decade redistricting has the backing of Attorney General Rob Bonta.
Bonta told reporters that he believes Newsom has a legal path to redistricting, which he feels he would be able to defend in court.
The backstory: Last week, Newsom hosted Texas Democrats in Sacramento to discuss their efforts to oppose redistricting in Texas, as well as potential paths for redistricting in California in an attempt to help Democrats pick up more seats in Congress.
- Newsom said he would consider pushing for a ballot measure that would allow the Legislature to redraw Congressional district lines.
- But Newsom would only push for redistricting if Texas ultimately moves forward with redistricting.
- The governor also said he is considering an option to simply have the Legislature redraw the lines without a ballot measure.
- California’s Congressional districts have been drawn by an independent commission since 2011.
The big picture: Bonta told reporters on Tuesday that he believes there is a legal pathway for Democrats to draw new district maps and allow voters to decide on them.
- That path would not need approval or input from the California Citizens Redistricting Commission.
- Such a ballot measure would ask voters to temporarily take the redistricting power away from the commission in order for the Legislature to determine the lines.
What they’re saying: “I think the governor could call a special election that the voters of the state of California would participate in, and present to them a pathway forward that’s different than the independent redistricting commission, that has maps presented to them ready [and] tangible and specific, and then the people vote,” Bonta told reporters.
- He added that his staff has been discussing the issue with Newsom’s team.
- “Generally, when the people vote on something, if it’s going to be changed in a significant way and not have additional steps taken by the Legislature in furtherance of what the people voted for, then the people need to vote for that change,” Bonta said.
- Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (R–Yuba City) responded to the effort, saying Democrats are trying to undermine voters.
- “Governor Gavin Newsom and Rob Bonta have concocted a strange legal ‘theory’ to undermine CA voters who unequivocally said citizens should draw maps for politicians, not the other way around,” Gallagher said. “It’s undemocratic, it’s wrong, and it needs to be stopped. If they move forward in this fashion, they will rip the state and this nation apart. I hope my colleagues in the Legislature will stand against this farce.”
