Vast Majority Of Californians Oppose Newsom’s Redistricting Overhaul, New Poll Shows

Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting push is running into a wall of public opposition, a new poll shows.

Newsom’s plan to redraw the state’s congressional maps to benefit Democrats involves transferring redistricting authority away from the state’s constitutionally-mandated independent commission to the state Legislature, a move that will need to be approved in a statewide referendum in November. However, a recent Politico–Citrin Center–Possibility Lab survey found that Californians prefer the independent panel over letting the Legislature decide congressional boundaries by nearly a two-to-one margin.

Just 36% support returning redistricting authority to lawmakers, according to the survey conducted between July 28 and Aug. 12 among 1,445 registered Californians. Even among Democrats, only 39% support returning redistricting authority to the Legislature, while 34% of Republicans support the move.

The Golden State governor has threatened to redraw the state’s congressional maps to counter a GOP-led redistricting effort in Texas that could yield Republicans up to five additional seats in the House of Representatives. California officials are expected to unveil proposed maps today that could net Democrats five extra congressional seats, effectively canceling out GOP gains in Texas.

Democrats have framed their redistricting push as retaliation against Texas Republicans.