California Governor Gavin Newsom faces growing backlash from both his own party and Republican critics after he pushed for a redistricting special election that has sparked a $230 million cost. The election, scheduled for November 4, is part of a broader effort to challenge a potentially partisan redistricting map in Texas, which mirrors a similar proposal in California. However, this push has come under fire due to Newsom’s past criticism of a recall election that cost the state over $276 million. In a recent press conference, Newsom reiterated his stance, calling the recall vote a ‘waste’ and saying it was a ‘Republican-backed’ effort, but these comments have fueled criticism from both sides of the aisle.
While the redistricting election is framed by Democrats as a necessary step to counter a ‘partisan power grab’ in Washington, critics, including members of the conservative group Stop Sacramento’s Power Grab, argue that Newsom and his allies are being hypocritical. Jessica Millan Patterson, the group’s chair, accused Newsom and Democrats of abandoning any ‘pretense of moral high ground’ by forcing a ‘wasteful special election’ that voters don’t want. The group has also criticized the Democrats for their ‘grasping for power’ at the expense of California taxpayers. In response, Newsom’s office has attempted to distance itself from these accusations, with a spokesperson stating that the state of California will fund the redistricting election. However, this position has not fully addressed the growing frustrations with the financial implications of these special elections.
Newsom’s call to action is part of a broader national trend where state leaders are actively pushing for redistricting measures that could shift the balance of power in Congress. The California redistricting election is particularly significant because it will allow voters to decide whether to maintain the independent redistricting map or adopt one drawn by the legislature. This decision has far-reaching implications, as it could influence the composition of the state’s congressional delegation and, by extension, its political power in Washington. Despite the significance of the election, the financial costs and the political ramifications of past recalls have raised concerns about the appropriateness of another special election at this time.
Among the state’s Democrats, Marc Berman and Rep. Kevin Mullin have also expressed their support for the redistricting election, citing the need to counter the Texas redistricting movement and restore some balance of power in Washington. However, their public comments have also drawn criticism for their dismissal of the financial costs associated with the previous recall. Berman referred to the $276 million recall election as ‘couch cushion change,’ while Mullin called it a ‘waste’ just to reaffirm 2018’s results with an election coming in 2022. These comments have only intensified the debate over the legitimacy and necessity of special elections in California, particularly given the state’s already significant financial commitments in the current fiscal year.