California’s controversial plan to redraw its congressional maps mid-decade is among the many most urgent points mentioned by candidates within the 2026 gubernatorial race.
Proposition 50, positioned on the poll by the state legislature for a November particular election, would authorize California lawmakers to redraw the state’s congressional districts earlier than the 2030 Census.
The redistricting effort, backed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, would shift 5 of the state’s U.S. Home seats to be extra favorable to Democrats in subsequent yr’s midterm elections. California Democrats name it a countermeasure to Texas’ latest redistricting, which favors Republicans within the midterms.
In contrast to in Texas, California voters took the ability to attract these maps away from lawmakers in 2020 and established an unbiased redistricting fee. Proposition 50 would give that energy again to lawmakers for the following 5 years.
Over a number of weeks in September, CBS Information California Investigates sat down with every candidate to ask questions on a wide range of points that matter to voters, together with Proposition 50.
Whereas Democratic candidates usually backed Proposition 50 alongside get together strains, some admitted unease when pressed on the small print. Republican and Inexperienced Celebration opponents defended their opposition as they responded to arguments in favor of the measure.
What do you consider the governor’s plan?
Candidates shared their views with CBS California Investigates on Governor Newsom’s Prop 50 redistricting proposal. On the time of the interviews, Democratic leaders framed it as a plan to “Cease Trump’s Energy Seize.
Former Legal professional Normal Xavier Becerra, a Democrat who served as Well being and Human Providers Secretary within the Biden administration, defended the plan as obligatory to guard California’s voice in Washington, saying it will “be sure that Donald Trump would not put his thumb on the size on the votes in Congress.”
Republican candidate Steve Hilton condemned the plan, saying outright that it’s “completely corrupt and it is unconstitutional and it’s unlawful.”
“Politicians should not draw their very own maps,” Hilton mentioned. “I imply, that is clearly unsuitable and corrupt. Frequent sense tells you that.”
Former state Assemblymember Ian Calderon, additionally a Democrat, mentioned he helps the plan and emphasised California’s place as a donor state.
“On the finish of the day, if we’ll have hope of any sort of leverage all through the following couple of years throughout Donald Trump’s presidency, it will be actually useful if Democrats managed Congress, in order that we may struggle again and safe the cash that’s coming to California,” Calderon mentioned.
Republican candidate Leo Zacky referred to as the proposal “unconstitutional,” criticizing the avenue the state has taken to redraw its districts.
“The best way that it is arrange is that we, the folks, are supposed to determine how the districts are alleged to be drawn,” he mentioned. “[Newsom is] violating the Structure. He is spending a ton of cash doing it. It is trash. It is a waste.”
Inexperienced Celebration candidate Butch Ware accused Democrats of consolidating energy beneath the guise of combating Republican overreach.
“Within the state of California, are y’all feeling that this has been a state that has been well-run and on your greatest curiosity? So you are going to basically hand them the keys to be sure that they personal each district within the state? You think about considering you could struggle fascism with fascism,” Ware mentioned.
Whereas Democratic former State Controller Betty Yee referred to as the redistricting effort “important” to stop the manipulation of elections, “because the president has requested the state of Texas to do.”
“We have now a course of for this. It is after each decennial census… And simply the concept there’s manipulation that’s being directed from the highest, that is going to have an effect on California’s illustration, our proportionate illustration,” Yee mentioned. “We have now to struggle that.”
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, who’s working as a Democrat, mentioned the redistricting effort is California’s alternative to counter “gerrymandering popping out of states like Texas.”
“Not solely will it give voters one thing higher and the possibility to realize 5 new Democratic seats. We’re doing it in a manner that’s clear,” he mentioned. “We will do it in a manner that lets the voters determine.”
Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, additionally a Democrat, mentioned the redistricting effort is a obligatory response to Republican makes an attempt to rig elections elsewhere.
“Let the folks determine, and I am for it. I believe folks have a proper to problem what is going on on, this rigged election that they are making an attempt to do,” Villaraigosa mentioned.
Businessman Steve Cloobeck, a Democrat, supported the plan and mentioned “we now have to protect Democracy.” One other Democrat, Katie Porter, who’s a regulation professor and former member of Congress, mentioned she is in “help of the governor’s plan.”
Republican Sheriff Chad Bianco of Riverside County expressed opposition.
“It is like saying homicide will not be acceptable, so I will go homicide you,” Bianco mentioned. “Let me let you know how damaged one thing is by telling you I will break it extra.”
Message to Californians who voted for Trump
The Democratic candidates additionally defined their message to the roughly 40% of California voters who supported Donald Trump in 2020, voters whose political illustration might be diminished beneath the brand new district maps.
The Republican and Inexperienced Celebration Proposition 50 opponents additionally defended their opposition to pro-redistricting arguments.
Becerra mentioned he would speak to them “straight out” and emphasised his intention to win each vote. Becerra additionally emphasised that now could be the time to face up for the rule of regulation and Democracy.
“Nobody ought to do energy grabs. Nobody is a king. Nobody has a proper to disclaim you your vote,” he mentioned.
Like Becerra, Calderon mentioned his marketing campaign would concentrate on listening to all voters, not simply speaking at them.
“There are a variety of Republicans within the state who do not essentially love every little thing Trump is doing,” Calderon mentioned. “They simply wish to be heard.”
Thurmond echoed comparable arguments, saying that lots of Mr. Trump’s voters might not help the entire president’s insurance policies.
“Most People don’t help assaults on the immigrant communities or schooling cuts,” he mentioned. “Simply because they voted for Trump does not imply they agree with every little thing.”
Yee acknowledged that some voters, notably in rural Republican districts, might really feel disenfranchised.
“What I’ll say to them is also, look, these are areas of the state that really wish to turn into important economies. These are areas that really have most likely disproportionate charges of individuals on Medicaid. These are elements of the states the place persons are counting on meals help greater than most likely different elements,” Yee mentioned. “I’d simply say, who’s going to greatest signify these pursuits when these cuts are upon you?”
Businessman Steve Cloobeck emphasised loyalty to California’s pursuits reasonably than get together politics.
“I’d have a look at the polls of the state proper now. The polls say shield California. Regardless of the California prospects need, I will likely be their chief and signify them,” Cloobeck mentioned.
Villaraigosa mentioned he expects to alienate some voters on each side, however believes many are nonetheless in search of management that bridges divides.
“I do know there are Democrats that I’d alienate in the midst of this race, and there will likely be Republicans I alienate. There may also be Democrats and a few Republicans that need a chief who’s a uniter who desires to work with each side, who desires the concentrate on widespread sense. So that you win just a few, you lose just a few.”
Porter, who has represented a swing district in Orange County, was the one candidate to not immediately reply the query, taking problem with the premise that she may want republican voters to win.
“How would I would like them in an effort to win?” Porter requested. “Whether it is me versus a Republican, I believe that I’ll win the individuals who didn’t vote for Trump.”
As a number of of her opponents famous, in California’s top-two open main system, Republican voters may assist put a Democratic candidate excessive.
Porter then threatened to name off the interview, taking problem with too many follow-up questions. She finally stayed and continued answering questions.
Do two wrongs make a proper?
The candidates additionally confronted the moral dilemma that even some Prop 50 supporters acknowledge: Does combating one partisan maneuver with one other set the unsuitable precedent? In different phrases, do two wrongs make proper?
“It is let me let you know how damaged one thing is by telling you I will break it extra,” Bianco mentioned.
Becerra defended the plan as obligatory to guard California’s voice in Washington.
“Donald Trump is afraid he will lose his slim majority of Republicans come 2026,” Becerra mentioned. “So he is making an attempt to rig the method to provide himself extra Republicans. That isn’t a Democratic course of. We will struggle as we’d like to ensure our votes depend.”
Calderon supplied a conflicted view, calling it “sort of a sh—- selection” however emphasizing the political stakes.
“If we’ll have hope of any sort of leverage throughout Donald Trump’s presidency, it will be actually useful if Democrats managed Congress.”
Ware warned voters to not fall for partisan manipulation.
“This does not serve the voters of California. It serves the DNC. It doesn’t assist us. It helps them,” Ware mentioned. “They’re utilizing Californians basically as a prop of their battle between Democrats and Republicans.”
Porter mentioned it is not two wrongs, highlighting the character during which Texas approached its redistricting.
“What Texas is doing is appearing out of the course of the census, not following new census information… They’re doing it as a result of Donald Trump instructed them to do it,” she mentioned.
Villaraigosa mentioned he is for letting the folks determine on the matter to problem corruption.
“I believe folks have a proper to problem what is going on on, this rigged election that they are making an attempt to do,” he mentioned.
Thurmond referred to as the particular election on Proposition 50 “an necessary second for voters to determine.”
Yee reaffirmed her stance on California’s transfer to counter Texas’ redistricting effort.
“Simply the concept there’s manipulation that’s being directed from the highest that is going to have an effect on California’s proportionate illustration, we now have to struggle again,” she mentioned.
Cloobeck additionally highlighted California’s place as a donor state.
“Donald Trump’s actions have been such that he desires to simply assault California. He has not proven us any gratitude for all of the billions of {dollars} of tax {dollars} the federal authorities will get from California,” he mentioned.
Hilton described the problem California faces in correctly redrawing its congressional districts mid-decade reasonably than after the federal census each 10 years.
“By drawing these maps within the center, they do not know who lives the place,” he mentioned. “Hundreds of thousands of individuals have left California. In Los Angeles, entire communities have burned down. Who is aware of who lives there? There is no manner that they will honor that constitutional requirement.”
Hilton burdened that even earlier than Newsom’s redistricting effort, California already had “a massively distorted political map.”
Acknowledging that Republicans make up about 40% of the vote in California however have simply 17% of the congressional seats, Hilton mentioned, “With this new plan that they have, it will be down to six%.”
Hilton argued that these voters are being pushed out of illustration altogether, saying that the plan would unfairly enhance the load of Democratic votes by as a lot as eight instances in comparison with Republican ones.
“We’re fully violating the precept of equal safety, the entire concept,” Hilton mentioned.
Whereas candidates differ sharply on Proposition 50, voters could have the ultimate say. The redistricting plan will go earlier than voters in a particular election on November 4. If authorized, the brand new congressional maps would stay intact by the 2030 election.
Hear extra from the candidates on the problems that matter to you on our CBS Information California Investigates YouTube playlist: 2026 California Governor Candidates
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