Governor Newsom is reportedly considering mid-decade redistricting to redraw California’s congressional lines – not to serve the people, but to play political revenge games with Texas. This is gerrymandering, plain and simple. And it would be a dangerous step backward.

Californians fought hard to end the days of shady, backroom map deals. In 2008, we passed Proposition 11 to create the Citizens Redistricting Commission, an independent body that puts people over politics when drawing district lines. That system works. In fact it’s considered the national  gold standard. And it belongs to the voters – not to the Governor or any political party. The LWVC was a proponent of Prop 11, and continues to advocate for fair redistricting throughout California.

Now, all that progress is under threat.

Mid-cycle redistricting would:

• Destabilize elections
• Confuse voters
• Open the door to partisan manipulation
• Undermine public trust in democracy

We must not let California dismantle our fair maps.

Tell Governor Newsom and your legislators: Hands off our maps. Respect the will of the voters. Protect fair redistricting.

Sincerely,

Helen Hutchison
Interim Executive Director