Gavin Newsom is now threatening to call a special session of the legislature to redraw California’s congressional districts to help elect five more Democrats to Congress. This is an outrageous power grab. California’s legislative districts are already severely tilted massively in favor of Democrats. What we need is fair representation. As governor, I will fight to make sure California voters are treated fairly and their voices are not drowned out by rigged maps.

Now Gavin Newsom wants to go even further. He has suggested changing the rules again to limit Republicans to just 7 percent of congressional seats in California. To get there, he has floated the idea of a rushed ballot measure or a new set of maps passed by the legislature itself. This is not about fairness or democracy. It is about helping his party win at any cost.

How We Got Here

In 2008, California voters approved what they were told was a nonpartisan redistricting reform. The Citizens Redistricting Commission was created to draw the lines for congressional, State Assembly, and State Senate districts after each census, using population data to ensure equal representation.

It started out with a balanced group of 14 members: five Democrats, five Republicans, and four independents. They originally agreed that the top priority should be to respect city and county lines. If they had followed that plan, California would have ended up with fair, logical districts.

Instead, left-wing pressure groups like Common Cause pushed the commission to use a vague and highly subjective standard called “communities of interest.” The staff assigned to guide the commission were union-aligned state auditors, and the maps they produced were heavily slanted in favor of Democrats. The final district boundaries were convoluted and cynically drawn to give Democrats an unfair advantage.

The Results Speak for Themselves

In 2022, Republican candidates for statewide office regularly earned over 40 percent of the vote. But in the State Assembly, Republicans only hold 24 percent of the seats. In the State Senate, 25 percent. And in Congress, just 17 percent of California’s 52 seats. Republican voters make up at least 40 percent of the electorate, but get about half the representation they deserve.

It’s Unconstitutional

This move would violate the California Constitution. In Legislature v. Deukmejian (1983), the California Supreme Court ruled that redistricting can only happen once per decade, after the census. That rule has not changed. Even though the redistricting authority now belongs to the Citizens Redistricting Commission, the requirement that redistricting happen only in the year following the census remains in place.

Newsom cannot just seize control and redraw the maps. He would need to pass a constitutional amendment, repeal the once-a-decade rule, and transfer power back to the legislature. That would completely undermine the reason voters created the Commission in the first place. Legislators have a clear conflict of interest. With term limits in place, many of them are planning their next run for Congress. Giving them control over redistricting again would be a disaster.

A Better Way Forward

As governor, I will protect the integrity of California’s redistricting process and fix what is broken. Here is what I will do:

Allow Commissioners to Hire Their Own Staff

Commissioners should be able to hire their own staff. The staff should reflect the will of the commissioners, not outside political interests.

Remove the “Communities of Interest” Standard

Remove the “communities of interest” standard. It is too vague and has been misused to justify partisan gerrymandering.

Prioritize City and County Boundaries

Prioritize city and county boundaries when drawing maps. This will lead to more logical and fair representation.

Leverage AI Technology

Leverage AI to generate district maps that minimize the splitting of cities and counties, follow neutral criteria like compactness and population equality, and eliminate political bias. This data-driven approach will make redistricting more fair, efficient, and transparent.

Add Fair Representation Requirements

Add a requirement that the final maps reflect fair representation for political parties, based on their share of the vote or voter registration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why does Steve Hilton oppose Newsom’s redistricting plan? A: Newsom’s plan is an outrageous power grab that would violate the California Constitution and further rig the system in favor of Democrats at the expense of fair representation.

Q: How does current redistricting hurt Republican voters? A: Republican voters make up at least 40 percent of the electorate, but get about half the representation they deserve. In Congress, Republicans hold just 17 percent of California’s 52 seats despite earning over 40 percent of the vote.

Q: What makes Newsom’s plan unconstitutional? A: The California Supreme Court ruled in Legislature v. Deukmejian (1983) that redistricting can only happen once per decade, after the census. Newsom’s plan would violate this constitutional requirement.

Q: How would Steve Hilton’s reforms make redistricting more fair? A: His plan would remove vague standards that enable gerrymandering, prioritize logical city and county boundaries, use AI technology for neutral map-drawing, and require fair representation based on actual vote share.

The Choice for California Voters

This is about fairness and democracy. Every voter in California deserves to have their voice heard. Rigged maps benefit the powerful at the expense of the people. Steve Hilton will not stand for it. As governor, he will fight to make sure California’s elections are fair, honest, and truly representative.

Take Action

California deserves fair representation, not rigged maps that silence voters. Steve Hilton’s plan will restore integrity to the redistricting process and ensure every vote counts.

Ready to stop the gerrymander?

• Follow Steve Hilton’s campaign for updates on redistricting reform
• Share this plan with voters concerned about fair representation
• Volunteer to help restore democracy in California

Bottom Line: Gavin Newsom wants to further rig California’s electoral maps to limit Republicans to just 7 percent of congressional seats despite earning over 40 percent of the vote. Steve Hilton will protect the integrity of California’s redistricting process and ensure fair representation for all voters.