Dear Suzie,
How absolutely delicious to watch your excitement about Gavin "dropping the hammer" through redistricting! I'm happy too – this may finally be the perfect encouragement for Northeast and Southeast California to split off and create 2 more states, giving Republicans 4 additional senators! Such constitutional brilliance from someone who apparently thinks governors can just wave magic wands and redraw congressional maps whenever they're having a political tantrum.
Here's a fascinating civics lesson backed by California law: California's redistricting is handled by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, established by Article XXI of the California Constitution, not Governor Newsom. This independent commission was created by California voters in 2008 through Proposition 11 specifically to prevent political manipulation of district boundaries.¹ The commission consists of 14 members requiring at least nine affirmative votes for any official action, and the four final redistricting maps must be approved by at least nine affirmative votes which must include at least three votes of members registered from each of the two largest political parties.² The next redistricting happens after the 2030 census, not whenever Gavin gets his feelings hurt.³
But this tantrum-induced redistricting fantasy is exactly what rural California needs to hear! The Greater Idaho movement has already seen 13 Oregon counties vote to join Idaho, including Baker, Crook, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Union, Wallowa, and Wheeler counties.⁴ If California splits into three states as I suggested, Northeast California (the conservative inland) and Southeast California (Orange County and San Diego regions) would each send two Republican senators, while West California gets the coastal elites. That's four new Republican senators while Democrats might get two. Brilliant strategy, Suzie!
The Greater Idaho movement argues that state lines should reflect cultural divides, noting "The Oregon/Idaho line was established 163 years ago and is now outdated. It makes no sense in its current location because it doesn't match the location of the cultural divide."⁵ The same principle applies to California – why should conservative inland counties be governed by San Francisco politicians?
Speaking of Gavin Newsom "dropping hammers," I find it particularly rich coming from someone who infamously said that Texas Governor Greg Abbott "doesn't have the backbone" to lead – you know, the Governor who's literally in a wheelchair due to a severed spine. Really classy leadership there, Gavin.
Now, about gerrymandering fairness: Democrats have been perfecting this art since 1812 when Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry (a Democratic-Republican) signed the bill that created the original "gerrymander."⁶ Democrats in Illinois boldly redrew their state's congressional map to reduce Republicans to holding just 3 of 17 seats, the fewest number since the Civil War, while a fair map would have around 6 GOP seats.⁷ Democratic-led states like Illinois, Maryland, and Oregon earned "poor" fairness grades from the Princeton Gerrymandering Project.⁸
Since Democrats have gerrymandered every state they possibly could over the past 212 years, it's only fair that Republicans are finally catching up to the game. The difference is Republicans are coming late to this Democratic tradition, so we have many more states where we can implement fair redistricting. As they say, turnabout is fair play!
But please, keep cheering for unconstitutional power grabs and celebrating politicians who mock disabled veterans. Meanwhile, Gavin just got absolutely schooled by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals when they stayed his tantrum-induced lawsuit against President Trump's National Guard deployment.⁹ Even liberal judges recognized that Newsom was overstepping his constitutional authority.
#CaliforniaExodus #ConstitutionalLaw #RedistrictingFacts #NewsonLoses #9thCircuitReality #DisabilityRespect #CaliforniaFailure #GreaterIdaho #SplitCalifornia #Alberta51 #SenateBalance #GerrymanderingSince1812 #DemocratsStartedIt
Footnotes:
California Constitution Article XXI § 2 - Redistricting of Senate, Assembly, Congressional and Board of Equalization Districts
California Citizens Redistricting Commission - Wikipedia
California Citizens Redistricting Commission Official Website
Newsweek: "Map Shows Oregon Counties Voting to Join 'Greater Idaho'"
Greater Idaho Official Website
Wikipedia: "Gerrymandering in the United States"
Brennan Center for Justice: "Gerrymandering Explained"
Visual Capitalist: "Both U.S. Political Parties Have a History of Gerrymandering"
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit Case No. 25-3727: Gavin Newsom v. Donald J. Trump