Politicians labored tirelessly on creating balanced electoral districts. Now, they express their sentiments over Newsom's move to reverse these maps.
In 2010, California voters extended the California Citizens Redistricting Commission's oversight to congressional races, marking a significant shift in the state's political landscape. This commission, created in 2008 by California voters approving Proposition 11, was spearheaded by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The commission, consisting of 14 diverse individuals from different backgrounds, spent over a year plotting out the state's political boundaries. More than 30,000 Californians applied for the positions on the commission, demonstrating the public's interest in the fair and impartial redrawing of district lines.
The even-handed congressional lines drawn by the commission are being challenged, with voters being asked to scrap these lines in favour of a gerrymandered map. This proposed map could potentially wipe out California's Republican representation in Congress.
Patricia Sinay, a commissioner, is uncertain about this proposed change and wants reassurance that congressional redistricting will revert to the commission after the next census. She stated that she will support "whatever the people of California want."
Russell Yee, a Republican commissioner, is generally opposed to the Democratic gerrymandering effort but will "keep listening with an open mind." Sara Sadhwani, another commissioner, spoke at Gavin Newsom's rally and testified before the state Senate, urging lawmakers to put the matter before voters.
California Governor Gavin Newsom supports the proposed partisan redistricting that favours Democrats as a counterweight to President Trump's actions. However, Neal Fornaciari, a Republican who chairs the redistricting commission, emphasized that the commission is in no way involved in the current redistricting effort.
It's a point of pride that no one sued to overturn the commission's work. Over the course of 16 months, the commissioners produced 176 maps, including district boundaries for 52 members of Congress, 120 state lawmakers, and four members of the Board of Equalization.
Trena Turner, another commissioner, believes the commission's impartial approach to political line-drawing is a model the rest of America should embrace. The commission remained in existence, although its map-making function was completed at the end of 2021.
Patricia Sinay served on the commission, working for free, receiving a $378 per diem on days they spent in session. The proposal to repeal the congressional lines drawn by Sinay and her co-commissioners was made by Alicia Simmons.
The California Citizens Redistricting Commission, a beacon of fairness and transparency in the redrawing of political boundaries, continues to be a topic of discussion and debate in California politics.
