California Democrats are trying to rewrite the rules of the game, and this time Gov. Gavin Newsom is the one left on the defensive. His plan to override the state’s independent redistricting commission and push through maps drawn by party insiders was supposed to be an easy win. Instead, he’s facing a backlash from both voters and the press.
Originally, Newsom pitched the plan as a tit-for-tat measure—arguing that California needed to respond to Texas after Republicans redrew maps that could net them four or five extra seats in Congress. But Democrats shifted the language, turning what was supposed to be a conditional retaliation into a sweeping power grab that allows their maps to be used regardless of what Texas does, and regardless of whether the courts strike down the Texas plan.
The brazenness of the move sparked heated debate in the legislature. Assembly Elections Chair Gail Pellerin brushed off questions about transparency with an analogy that stunned many Californians. “When I go to a restaurant, I don’t need to meet the chef, I just enjoy the food,” she told reporters, dismissing concerns about voters not knowing who actually drew the maps.
On Thursday, KCRA reporter Ashley Zavala confronted Newsom directly about the fact that two lawmakers reportedly drew districts they themselves might run in—a glaring conflict with the entire premise of the independent commission voters originally approved. Newsom visibly struggled under the pressure, dodging and deflecting before finally snapping, “You’ll have to ask them.”
The exchange left him looking frustrated and rattled, a sign that even in deep-blue California, voters are skeptical of blatant power plays. Polling already shows the scheme is unpopular with a majority of Californians, leaving Democrats scrambling to defend a plan that reeks of self-interest.
For Newsom, the optics couldn’t be worse. He hoped to paint himself as a defender of democracy while attacking Republicans in Texas, but instead he’s being portrayed as a governor eager to sideline voter-approved reforms and hand his allies tailor-made districts.
The stakes are enormous. If Californians approve the changes in November, Democrats could lock in maps designed to cement their dominance. But if voters reject the scheme, Newsom will suffer a very public—and humiliating—defeat in his own backyard.
Either way, the episode has already exposed the cracks in Democratic messaging. For all their talk of protecting democracy, the reality on display is one of backroom deals, political favors, and raw power grabs. And this time, Newsom couldn’t talk his way out of it.
