CNN Senior Political Commentator Scott Jennings didn’t need a lengthy explanation to dismantle Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest speech on redistricting Thursday.
Newsom announced in Los Angeles that California will hold a special election on Nov. 4 for a ballot initiative to impose a new Democratic-led redistricting plan ahead of the 2026 midterms. During a panel on CNN’s “The Arena With Kasie Hunt,” Jennings mocked the hypocrisy and pointed out Newsom’s solution to gerrymandering appears to be more gerrymandering.
“Let me summarize Gavin Newsom’s speech today: gerrymandering is evil, please vote for my gerrymandering,” Jennings said. “Of course he failed to mention that it’s already gerrymandered — Republicans get 40% of the vote in California, they have 17% of the congressional seats under a supposed independent redistricting commission — so we’re gonna further gerrymander the gerrymandering.”
WATCH:
Republicans routinely win about 40% of the vote in California but hold just 9 of the state’s 52 congressional seats, translating to only 17% of the delegation, according to PolitiFact. Despite the state’s claim of using an independent redistricting commission intended to remove partisan influence, Democrats continue to hold a commanding edge.
Major outlets have amplified Texas Democrats’ claims of defending democracy while largely ignoring the fact that they fled to Illinois, which has one of the most lopsided congressional maps in the country. Despite President Donald Trump winning over 43.5% of the vote there in 2024, Democrats control 82% of Illinois’ House seats.
Democrats have long tried to reshape congressional maps in their favor but now accuse Texas Republicans for manipulating district lines ahead of the 2026 elections.
California voters handed redistricting power to a nonpartisan commission in 2010, limiting the influence of partisan interests. Democrats have explored redrawing congressional lines in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Oregon, and Illinois, but face roadblocks in each state.
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