In conclusion
Republican Representative Ken Calvert criticizes the proposal that jeopardizes his seat as Governor Gavin Newsom proceeds with his redistricting plan to thwart Texas’s attempt to remove five Democratic seats in Congress.
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The longest-serving Republican in California’s delegation, Rep. Ken Calvert, was defeated by Democrat Will Rollins, a former federal prosecutor, by a slim margin last year.
He has eight opponents this year, and there’s a chance that California District 41, where he lives, will be redrawn to favor Democratic candidates.
In an effort to blue at least five red congressional districts, Governor Gavin Newsom is putting up what lawmakers are referring to as an emergency redistricting plan for California. One of such priorities is the Inland Empire district of Calvert.
After Texas started redrawing its political boundaries to remove five Democratic seats, Newsom put forth his suggestion. With the support of President Donald Trump, who hopes to increase the GOP’s House majority in the upcoming midterm election by tilting voting districts in favor of Republicans, Texas Governor Greg Abbott is promoting the notion.
In a statement, Newsom vowed to fight fire with fire and stated that Donald Trump had summoned Governor Abbott for the sole purpose of rigging the 2026 elections.
He has some obstacles, though. California uses an independent citizens commission to determine voting lines, in contrast to Texas, where the legislature establishes political borders. The redistricting commission for state offices was adopted by California voters in 2008, giving the bipartisan committee the authority to draw boundaries based on communities of interest and geographic areas, which may include cultural and economic traits. Voters introduced congressional districts into the process in 2010.
Newsom would urge California voters to accept new boundaries that would last until 2030 in order to get around that. Next week, he intends to make the suggested vote maps public. To put the redistricting plan on the November ballot, the state legislature must then approve a ballot measure by August 22.
Texas lawmakers who left the state to postpone a vote on its redistricting proposal were entertained by Newsom last week. He also issued a letter explaining California’s counteroffensive to Trump on Monday. Knowing that California can undo any progress you expect to make, you are playing with fire and threatening to undermine democracy, Newsom stated.
According to his administration, the legislature is in charge of the maps, even if the governor has been spearheading the redistricting effort. In an email to CalMatters, Brandon Richards, a spokesman for the governor’s office, stated that “that is not something our office is actively involved in.”
Calvert stated that the plan undercuts California’s citizen-led redistricting process, but he did not address how the proposal will impact his district.
In a statement to CalMatters, Calvert said, “I vehemently oppose the plan being hatched behind closed doors by Sacramento politicians to strip the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission of constitutionally granted authority and replace it with a process that would allow legislators to draw gerrymandered district maps to benefit themselves and their political allies.” California voters made it clear when they established the VOTERS FIRST Act and took part in the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission process that they did not want a partisan political gerrymander.
Calvert’s seat might be in jeopardy if voters accept the new maps. It is a more competitive race because of the 2021 redistricting that brought conservative areas of western Riverside County into contact with the liberal Coachella Valley. In November, Rollins lost by barely 3% despite having a well-managed campaign and a $8 million war chest.
The swing contest would probably garner more national attention and campaign funding with even more Democrat-friendly boundaries and a broad field of contenders that includes pop stars, corporate executives, and educators.
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