Schwarzenegger Condemns Partisan Redistricting Effortโฃ in California, Warnsโข of Democraticโ Backsliding
Los Angeles, CAโข – Former California Governor โArnold Schwarzenegger delivered a scathing rebuke Monday of Propositionโฃ 50, a ballot measure that would allow the state legislature to redraw congressional districts, effectively undoing the work ofโ an self-reliant commission.โข Speaking to hundreds of students at the University of Southern California during an event celebrating the International Day of Democracy, Schwarzenegger argued theโ measure represents a hazardous erosion of democratic principles.
“They are tryingโข toโฃ fight for democracy by getting rid of the democratic principles of california,” Schwarzenegger stated, calling the effort “insane.” He urged students to vote against Proposition 50โค in the upcoming November special election.
The proposed redistricting, championed by Governor Gavin Newsom, is widely expected to favor Democrats and bolster California’s portrayal in Congress – a move framed as โa response to aggressive redistricting efforts by Republican-led states โฃlike Texas. However,Schwarzeneggerโ warned against fighting partisan fire with partisanโ fire.
“They want to dismantle this โindependentโ commission.They want โฃtoโ get rid of it under the auspices of we haveโ to fight Trump,” he saeid. “It doesn’t make any sense to me because we have to fight Trump, [yet] we become Trump.”
Schwarzenegger has been a long-time advocate for non-partisan redistricting, prioritizing the creation of โthe independent commission during his final year in office. He recognized four former members of the commission at the USC event, underscoring his commitment to the principle of impartial district drawing. He explained that his interest in the process stemmed from witnessing how politicians โคroutinely manipulated district lines to protect their ownโค power, rather โคthan represent voters.
The former governor’s remarks, โcaptured by the anti-Proposition โฃ50 campaign, are likely to featureโข prominently in upcoming television advertisements.โ Meanwhile, student Democrats outside theโ event were actively campaigning in favor of the measure, highlighting โฃthe deep divisions surrounding the issue.
Schwarzenegger also took time โฃto reflect โon the recent tragic shooting of conservative activist Charlie โขKirk in Utah, using the event as a somber reminder of the fragility ofโฃ democracy. He described โคKirk as โขa skilled โฃcommunicator who connected โwith young peopel,โฃ even those who disagreed with him, and lamented theโข loss of a life taken dueโ to political differences.
“That โsomeone’s โขlife โขwas taken โasโ they had a different opinion, Iโข mean it’s