Newsom’s California redistricting plan sparks backlash

Governor Gavin Newsom is facing criticism for pushing the California redistricting plan announced on August 15, which targets several Republican-leaning areas and could shift nine congressional districts toward Democrats while requiring approval by year’s end.

The plan submitted to the legislature would move nine districts in Democrats’ favor. Seats held by Doug LaMalfa (1st District), Kevin Kiley (3rd District), and Ken Calvert (41st District) would shift from “safe Republican” to “safe Democratic.” Darrell Issa’s (48th District) district would move from “safe Republican” to a toss-up (competitive), while David Valadao’s (21st District) district, already a safe Democratic seat, would become even more favorable to Democrats, including a valley region.

The only Korean American Republican in Congress, Young Kim (40th District), would also be affected. Her district would absorb parts of Ken Calvert’s current territory in eastern Riverside County, raising the possibility of a primary clash between Republican incumbents. Politico reported that if Calvert runs in Republican-heavy Orange County instead, a contest with Young Kim may be unavoidable. On August 18, Kim’s office said: “We will continue to focus on our district while fighting Sacramento’s unconstitutional power grab. Governor Gavin Newsom should stop stripping voters of their rights and focus on addressing the crises facing Californians, instead of positioning himself for a presidential run.”

The proposal, drafted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), has been described as a response to Texas lawmakers’ recent redistricting that favored Republicans. Governor Gavin Newsom has pledged to move the measure to a statewide referendum on November 4. If approved, up to five Republican members of Congress could lose their seats.

Critics argue that the governor is rushing the process to meet election deadlines. CalMatters reported on August 18 that candidate filing begins in December, requiring the new districts to be finalized by year’s end. To allow ballot printing by late September, the California Assembly and California Senate must act by August 22. A statewide referendum is estimated to cost at least $235 million, compared to $200 million spent on the 2021 gubernatorial recall election.

Despite mounting concerns, some Democrats such as Dave Min (47th District) and Derek Tran (45th District) support the plan because it would make their competitive seats safer. Governor Gavin Newsom has confirmed he will move forward with the referendum on November 4, which would temporarily suspend the authority of the Independent Citizens Commission until after the 2030 Census.

BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]