Meanwhile in the uniparty Peoples Republic of California
Posted by JK on 8/21/2025, 10:44:13
Democrats across the country have been howling about the Texas plan -- assailing it as the latest threat to Our Democracy®. Meanwhile, conservatives scoffed at Texas state legislators' choice of Illinois as their state to run to during their walkout, because Illinois arguably has the worst gerrymandering in America. In 2024, Democrats won 53% of the popular vote in Illinois House races, but took 82% of the seats (14 out of 17).
On Tuesday, former President Obama endorsed California Gov. Gavin Newsom's pursuit of a ballot measure to redraw the state's own districts, with a goal of moving five more districts into the Democrat column -- thereby negating the Texas redistricting. Of the Golden State's 52 US House seats, Democrats own 43 today. The new goal for the 2026 elections: 48 of 52 (92.3%). While California normally uses an independent redistricting commission, Newsom's plan centers on putting a new map in front of voters in a special election on November 4. California lawmakers debated the legislation over several house on Tuesday and a vote is expected soon.
According to Politico and AP, here's what Obama told fellow leftists at a fundraiser in Martha's Vineyard:
"I believe that Governor Newsom’s approach is a responsible approach. I think that approach is a smart, measured approach, designed to address a very particular problem in a very particular moment in time.
[If Democrats] don’t respond effectively, then this White House and Republican-controlled state governments all across the country, they will not stop, because they do not appear to believe in this idea of an inclusive, expansive democracy...We cannot unilaterally allow one of the two major parties to rig the game. And California is one of the states that has the capacity to offset a large state like Texas.”
Obama characterized Newsom's approach as restrained, given it doesn't seek to "completely maximize" Democrats' share of the California delegation, instead shooting for a mere 92.3%. (Gee, that sounds reasonable.) A Democratic pollster this week said 57% of California voters support the redistricting proposal; 35% oppose it and 8% are undecided.
While California and Texas are the top heavyweights, watch for action in other states too. Ohio is going through a redraw mandated by state law, while GOP leaders in Florida, Missouri and Indiana are talking about their own moves to boost Republican power on Capitol Hill. Democrats' ability to keep countering GOP redistricting is limited by the fact that they've already gerrymandered the %$#@ out of their blue states.