Source: Fox News Forum
by Tony Strickland
“California has always touted itself as a beacon of democracy. In 2008 and 2010, voters enacted constitutional amendments establishing an independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, which is the gold standard for redistricting and should serve as the national model. Here in California, unlike other states, our citizens pick their representatives – the representatives don’t pick their citizens. In our Constitution, our criteria is that we keep cities, counties and communities of interest together while drafting district lines in public, during hearings across the state. Gavin Newsom wants to go against our Constitution. He drafted maps behind closed doors without community input, splitting counties 16 times and cities more than 100 times, again, without public hearings. The result will be no competitive districts in the state of California. Where voters today have a voice on who is elected, that will go away with Newsom’s redistricting scheme.” (08/21/25)