Governor condemns Texas effort to redraw maps to pick up more seats and says Democrats should respond in kind

Seeking to offset a Republican plan to pick up congressional seats in Texas, California Democrats say they are prepared to redraw the state’s 52 congressional districts in a longshot and controversial effort to pick up Democratic seats.

Governor Gavin Newsom, seen as a likely presidential candidate in 2028, has been leading the threat in recent days. And Democratic members of California’s delegation in the US House appear to be on board.

“We want our gavels back,” Representative Mark Takano, a California Democrat, told Punchbowl News. “That’s what this is about.” Democrats hold 43 of California’s 52 seats and reportedly believe they can pick up an additional five to seven seats by drawing new maps.

    • N0t_5ure@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      Honestly, I think he’s just a political opportunist, with no real convictions. He sets his sails with the direction the wind is blowing. He’s nominally a democrat, because that is the prevailing party in California, but I guarantee he’d flip if the political calculus were in favor of doing so.

      • Pacattack57@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        That’s a good thing. A politicians job is to represent their constituents. If the people want a certain thing by majority, the politician should try to make it happen, with some exceptions of course.

        • synae[he/him]@lemmy.sdf.org
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          1 day ago

          My elected officials can win my vote by having morals and ideals which are compatible with mine. Changing your position when it’s convenient is decidedly not a quality I value in a leader

          • Pacattack57@lemmy.world
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            1 day ago

            Again the will of the people should be followed. California has the largest population of republicans in the country. As the governor he has to represent those people as well. Not everything is blue versus red. That’s the whole mentality that got us in this mess.

            Things change because populations change.

        • hitmyspot@aussie.zone
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          A politicians job is also to lead, not just follow. They should follow their voters wants and needs, but of their ideas are rejected, someone else should be the representative instead. With career politicians z they change their views to get elected rather than have beliefs to better the country or state.

    • ZoteTheMighty@lemmy.zip
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      That just sounds like he’s trying to run for president in 2028 and really needs to get the DNC behind him

      • HasturInYellow@lemmy.world
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        23 hours ago

        As much as I dislike the guy, he is at least standing up to some of what trump is doing. Is he my first choice? No. Is he my third choice? No. Is he my 12th choice? Still no. But fuck dude. I would literally take anyone who agrees that brown people should not all be slaves at this point. Like anyone who isn’t a right wing christofascist cumbucket.

        But then again, if we don’t get someone willing to discuss and rewrite large portions of the Constitution and other founding documents, we’re just dead in the water anyways.