The Daily Signal - Victor Davis Hanson: Newsom’s Redistricting Ploy Makes a ‘Jigsaw Puzzle Look Proportional’ 

Episode Date: October 16, 2025

California’s Prop 50 could completely erase Republican representation in elections. The measure would hand Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration the power to redraw California’s congressional districts. Supporters say the measure simply mirrors what Texas has done to strengthen Republican representation, but Hanson argues this is a blatantly partisan effort to cement Democrat control and eliminate what little Republican representation remains in California. He breaks it down on today’s episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words.” “Gavin Newsom, moreover, when he's been asked about that, he says that he wants to punch these people. I guess he was referring to Republicans in general or the Texas Republicans in particular. He wants to ‘punch them in the mouth.’  He said he wants to punch Donald Trump in the mouth. The rhetoric is heating up but will Proposition 50 pass in a state that is 60%, in most elections, voting toward the Left or for Democrats? It probably will. And we in California who are on the conservative side will go from 17% representation—not 40%, of which reflects our actual numbers, but 17%—now to about 9% after Proposition 50 passes.” 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest videos by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1    👉If you can’t get enough of Victor Davis Hanson from The Daily Signal, subscribe to his official YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273    👉He’s also the host of “The Victor Davis Hanson Show,” available wherever you prefer to watch or listen. Links to the show and exclusive content are available on his website: https://victorhanson.com  (0:00) Prop 50 Controversy (3:07) California’s Congressional Representation (5:09) Future Implications Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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We'd love to talk. Business. It's a very controversial ballot measure here in California, Prop 50. It involves redistricting congressional districts that would empower Gavin Newsom's administration to draw up new congressional districts. And the gist of it is that the Democrats say it's in reaction to what Texas has done. Texas is going to pick up more Republican seats than it had before. And Gavin Newsom, who was running for president in 2008, has thrust him, into the controversy and so what am I saying we're going way beyond nonpartisan

ship that wasn't nonpartisan we're going into extremism with just five four five Republican Congress representatives out of 52 seats it makes jigsaw puzzles look proportional hello this is Victor Davis Hansen for the Daily Signal there's a very controversial ballot measure here in California Prop 50. It involves redistricting congressional districts in a special ballot mandate that would empower Gavin Newsom's administration to draw up new congressional districts. And the gist of it is that the Democrats feel that in the next midterms, they want to get at least five. or six more congressional Democratic seats.

They say it's in reaction to what Texas has done. Texas has redistricted, and it is going to pick up more Republican seats than it had before. And Gavin Newsom, who was running for president in 2008, has thrust himself into the controversy and said, I will do what Texas did. But there's a problem. If you look at all the gerrymandered districts in all 50 states and you compare them with a national vote, contemporary national vote of Democrat, Republican, they're already gerrymandered in favor of Democrats. Here in California, to take the most relevant example that involves Prop 15, we have 52 congressional districts, 52. Currently, there is only nine Republicans out of that 52. That represents about 17% of the congressional district.

However, in most statewide and national elections, Republicans usually pull about 40%. So, in other words, California is 23% underrepresented in its congressional district. in terms of Republican representatives right now. How did that happen? That happened because about a decade ago, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who ran as a conservative but metamorphosized into a centrist or moderate or maybe left center in his last year's office created what he said was a nonpartisan redistricting commission. But when you actually looked at the people on that commission, they were either left or center left. And they gerrymandered California under the guise of a nonpartisan or bipartisan commission

that took politics supposedly out of the equation. So what am I saying? We're going way beyond nonpartisanship that wasn't nonpartisan. We're going into extremism that is going to end up with just five, four, five Republican Congress representatives. out of 52 seats. And it's even worse than that. When you look at the map, it makes jigsaw puzzles look proportional.

They're stretching and pulling these districts well beyond any semblance to geographical reality. And the point is they want to combine Republicans into about five districts, and that way they would free up moderates and independence and Democrats and create the other 47 districts that would be sure winners for the left. And in these five districts, these nine existing Republicans would be forced to run against each other. So they would destroy half of the incumbents that some of them serve on, you know, very

important committees in Washington. They have seniority. Gavin Newsom moreover, when he's been asked about that, he says that he wants to punch these people, I guess he was referring to Republicans in general or the Texas Republicans in particular, he wants to punch them in the mouth. He said he wants to punch Donald Trump in the mouth. The rhetoric is heating up. But will proposition 50 pass in a state that is 60% in most elections voting toward the left or for Democrats? It probably will. And we in California, who are on the conservative side will go from 17% representation, not 40% of which reflects our actual numbers,

but 17% now to about 9% after Proposition 50 passes. So I would urge everyone to take a very good look in California at this proposition. And whatever your political affiliation is, you can see that this is a desperate attempt to destroy a once idealistic but not very good bipartisan commission, but far better than turning over redistricting to Gavin Newsom and hardcore leftists in the California legislature. Thank you very much. This is Victor Davis-Hanson for the Daily Signal. Thank you for tuning in to the Daily Signal. Please like, share, and subscribe to be notified for more content like this. You can also check out my own website at victorhansson.com and subscribe for exclusive features in addition.