Schwarzenegger Blasts Newsom’s “Fantasy” Redistricting Plan: Warns California Is Being Cheated

Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is taking direct aim at Governor Gavin Newsom, accusing him of deceiving voters about the scope and permanence of a proposed redistricting overhaul that could reshape California’s political map for years to come.

In a fiery interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, the Hollywood legend and former Republican governor dismissed Newsom’s claim that the ballot measure—Proposition 50—would only be a temporary fix to counter gerrymandering in Republican-controlled states.

“When they say something is temporary in government, that’s a fantasy,” Schwarzenegger said. “The longest programs are always the so-called temporary ones. Once they start, they never end.”

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A Battle Over Power and Maps

Proposition 50, strongly backed by Newsom and state Democratic leaders, would allow California’s legislature to bypass the independent citizens’ redistricting commission created by voters in 2010. That independent body was designed to prevent political bias when drawing congressional and legislative district lines.

If passed, the measure could open the door for lawmakers to create up to five new congressional seats, which analysts say would likely favor Democratic candidates.

Newsom has defended the plan as a necessary response to aggressive Republican redistricting tactics in states like Texas, Missouri, and Florida. “We can’t unilaterally disarm,” he argued earlier this month, urging voters to approve the measure during his campaign stops across California.

Early voting on Proposition 50 began last week, setting the stage for a heated battle at the ballot box.

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Schwarzenegger Calls It “Cheating”

Schwarzenegger—who helped establish the independent redistricting commission during his time as governor—said Newsom’s proposal undermines the very foundation of fair democracy.

“What the Democrats should be doing is outperforming Trump, not changing the rules,” he said. “Competition creates performance. But what they’re doing now is cheating the voters by drawing districts that guarantee victory no matter how badly they perform.”

The former governor warned that, if passed, the measure would effectively nullify years of progress toward transparency in California elections.

“If you destroy the Constitution of California, tear it up and rewrite it just to win elections, that’s not democracy,” he told Tapper.

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“Temporary” — or Permanent Power Grab?

Schwarzenegger also took aim at Newsom’s insistence that the new redistricting powers would expire in 2032, when the independent commission is supposed to return. He argued that such promises rarely hold true once entrenched in government.

“When 2032 comes, they’ll say, ‘We can’t stop now—there’s still gerrymandering in Texas and Florida,’” Schwarzenegger warned. “They’ll always find an excuse. That’s why calling this temporary is total fantasy.”

The former governor posted a photo of himself on social media wearing a T-shirt that read “Terminate Gerrymandering,” signaling his opposition in signature Schwarzenegger style.

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Newsom Fires Back

Governor Newsom, meanwhile, brushed off criticism from both Schwarzenegger and Republicans who accuse him of hypocrisy.

“Spare me the moral high ground,” Newsom said in a recent interview. “We’re doing what’s necessary to protect fair representation in the face of Republican gerrymandering across the country.”

But critics note that Democrats have long benefited from favorable district lines in deep-blue states, including California, Illinois, and Maryland. Many analysts argue that Proposition 50 would cement Democratic dominance in California’s congressional delegation for at least another decade.

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A Private Clash Between Titans

Despite their public disagreement, Schwarzenegger said his conversations with Newsom have remained civil.

“We’ve talked privately about it,” Schwarzenegger said. “We respect each other. We just strongly disagree on this issue.”

He added that his opposition is not personal but rooted in his belief that democracy works best when voters—not politicians—control the redistricting process.

“The American people are being cheated when politicians pick their voters instead of voters picking their politicians,” he said.

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The 2028 Shadow

As the political fight over redistricting intensifies, speculation about Gavin Newsom’s presidential ambitions continues to grow. In a recent interview on CBS News Sunday Morning, Newsom admitted he is considering a 2028 presidential run, though he stopped short of making it official.

“I’d be lying otherwise,” Newsom said. “I haven’t made a final decision yet, but of course, I’m thinking about it.”

In recent months, Newsom has toured several early-primary states, including South Carolina and New Hampshire, while launching a political podcast that pits him against conservative guests—a move seen by many as a trial run for the national stage.

For Schwarzenegger, however, the focus remains squarely on protecting California’s democratic integrity.

“You can’t claim to fight for democracy while trying to manipulate it,” he said. “If we don’t stop this, we’ll end up with politicians who answer to themselves, not the people.”

As voters prepare to cast their ballots, the clash between California’s past and present governors—two men with very different visions of leadership—has become a defining showdown over the future of political power in America’s largest state.