Letter to the Editor: Redistricting California is not a fight the Democrats can win
Anderson resident Curtis Scott draws on current events to scrutinize the value of a proposed redistricting effort by California Democrats. He describes himself as a 50-year resident of Shasta County and life-long progressive.
It is a truism in sports that you don’t win by beating an opponent at their own game. You win by beating your opponent with your game.
Politics is not a sport, but there is a lesson to be learned here.
Republicans in Texas and elsewhere are working to rig the midterm elections by redistricting their states to assure that they retain control of the House of Representatives. In Texas, they expect they can increase their congressional delegation by five seats.
In response, California Democrats are proposing to circumvent their method of redistricting by an independent bipartisan commission. To this end, Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing a ballot initiative that will allow the state’s Democratic majority to redistrict the state prior to the midterm elections. They expect this will gain them five more congressional seats, including one currently held by Congressman Doug LaMala.
The sentiment among Democrats is that they have to fight fire with fire. It is akin to saying they have to beat Republicans at their game. This is a dunderheaded idea and could well set the stage for a political catastrophe here in the Golden State.
Eviscerating the California Citizens Redistricting Commission in California will likely alienate independent voters who want nothing to do with such political shenanigans. It may well spur them into voting for Republicans who will doubtless attack the Democrats for such a political power grab.
The proper course is for Democrats to play to their own strength of fairness and opportunity, not to ape the Republicans’ strategy of division and gerrymandered elections.
The current Republican agenda of dismantling Medi-Cal and other social safety nets, tariffs and mass deportation of undocumented workers is highly unpopular in California. This is a strength for the Democrats.
There are at least five and likely more Republican Congress members who represent areas of California where the Republican agenda is likely to cause serious economic and social harm.
The vast Central Valley from Bakersfield to Yreka is predominantly agricultural-, ranching- and timber-based. It has also been a Republican stronghold for decades.
The majority of people in this area, however, are dependent on Medi-Cal and other social programs for their health care and livelihoods. Big Agriculture in these areas is dependent on undocumented workers and on the export markets, which are being killed by Trump’s trade war.
The Republican Congress members in these areas are at risk. Democrats should focus their efforts on winning these seats. With enough political energy these seats can be won by Democrats.
Aping the Republicans and fighting fire with fire is playing their game. It is one that the Democrats will likely find themselves losing. Winning with ideas and fairness has always been the Democrats’ strength. It is the fight that they can win.
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Reasoned debate is the lifeblood of our republic. Thank you to all who engaged their energies in this question. I note that Gov. Newsom is putting the question of the extra-ordinary redistricting to a vote of we the people. This is a proposition I heartly support.
Yes, he’s so progressive with letting Texas and the other red states do it, but we get plant both thumbs up our asses and hope they grow morals soon. No, we do the same damn thing they are doing to fight back, and if we get power back, pass and codify something where no one is allowed to gerrymander ever again
As a 70+ year resident of CA, and Shasta County for that matter, I can say that I am tired of being in the Democratic Party where we go to the “gunfight” armed with a feather-filled pillow.
Red States across the country are already gerrymandered and that is why there is even a chance of majority of Representatives with an R after their names. Blue States have played by a different set of rules, which has allowed the Red States the advantage- not based the number of actual votes.
Doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome is ridiculous and stupid.
I share the concerns about “Fighting fire with fire” (although that seems to work for CalFire), but I see that Governor Newsome is saying that the redistricting would only go into effect if Texas (or another state) does that first. In addition, the redistricting process would be temporary, and return to the usual nonpartisan plan. Given that, and if this gets us out from under the tyranny (and stupidity) of Doug LaMalfa, I’m for it.
Texas will 100% do it anyways, the GOP also sent people to Indiana, Ohio and other states, and do it there too.
“The proper course is for Democrats to play to their own strength of fairness and opportunity, not to ape the Republicans’ strategy of division and gerrymandered elections.”
With all do respect, I think this is very naive. Dems have been doing this “we are the good guys!” and “when they go low, we go high!” puppet-show for a LONG, LONG time. And look where it has got us. People are hungering for an opposition party that will actually FIGHT. For the entire time I have been of voting age, the Dems have been spineless, limp-wristed, and seemingly not up to the job. As someone who has progressive and leftist values, I am in a near constant state of disappointment, if not anger, by the Democrats’ fecklessness. A good example is Biden’s Build Back Better bill. If that had passed in its original form, it would have been absolutely transformative and (my opinion) could have handed the Dems the Whitehouse in the election. But some arcane, arbitrary rule involving the Parliamentarian declaring that the bill couldn’t be passed as is, left Biden shrugging his shoulders, basically saying, “Well, the Parliamentarian says we can’t do this, so nothing I can do about it. Sorry!” It was so angering–absolutely no fight at all, total surrender and weakness. It sends the message that Dems don’t care and don’t actually believe in anything enough to fight for it. Republicans could care less about some dumb rule, they would have found a way to get what they want. Or how about Schumer’s capitulation to Trump’s bill, or Jeffries announcing that there is nothing that Dems can do because they have no leverage? Bull-sh&t. It is crap like this that is the reason Democrat’s approval ratings are still in the toilet. They are SO not meeting the moment. If Dems want to win they need to inspire and show people that they will absolutely fight for what they believe in. Love him or hate him, what Newsome is doing is a step in the right direction–finally doing something bold. Democrats are always so worried about losing that they stop caring about winning.
Curtis,
I believe you are correct, fighting fire with fire is a mistake. What would be the long-term implications of moving away from an independent bipartisan commission? Texas.
America needs to avoid the Gerrymandering seen in Texas; Newsome’s response can be interpreted as multiplying a double negative: helpful in math, terrible in practice. Who are the net losers of allowing midterm fiddling? Us.
What we need is a national standard, not partisan foreplay.
The redistricting would be abandoned after the 2030 Census when the nonpartisan committee would be back in play. We, however, will not see gerrymandered Red States do the same- they will continue to cheat.
So, in short, just keep playing a losing hand while the GOP doubles down on gerrymandering, voter disenfranchisement, fear-mongering, court-stacking, and a host of other underhanded tactics.
No thanks. MAGA is an authoritarian existential threat to this country. I’m not going to tell my grandkids, “Sorry about leaving you a fascist country, but at least I didn’t get my hands dirty.”
Time to take off the kid gloves.
I agree 100%! We must fight if we intend on still having a democratic republic come 2027.
Anneliese. Thanks for pointing that out.
Curtis, thank you for your concern and careful thought. However, here’s how another “progressive” Shasta County longtimer views this issue. You didn’t mention your political party affiliation. The difference might be that I’m a Democrat—sometimes proud of my party, sometimes not—but steadfast and in the trenches. So, here’s my “progressive Democrat” evaluation: For far too long, Democrats have relied on No Party Preference and political centrist affiliates to acknowledge we are on the moral high ground, and we have been told that when they go low, we go high. The result? We have gotten our asses kicked! Now, most “progressives” are sick and tired of that and are becoming “Non-Violent Good Trouble Activists.” In fact, Curtis, the “fire” you talk about, is here, NOW! MAGA Trumpism’s scorched-earth authoritarian policies are burning what’s left of the Voting Rights Act (60 years old this week) and what’s left of Democracy as we know it to the ground! Quite literally and very soon, we might not have a Democracy any longer, if we don’t stop with the passive “Mr. Nice Guy” gamesmanship and become very active. In my youth, I fought on fire lines with a chainsaw, McLeod, and a drip torch to create lines and controlled burns, removing fuel in a fire’s path. And that is what all “progressive” Democrats are going to do, because Trump’s fire is about to cross all lines and burn the House of Representatives down, and our country along with it! Quoting CADEM Chair Rusty Hicks. “We’re fighting back and defending democracy from a wannabe dictator. Because we can’t just sit on the sidelines while MAGA Republicans silence millions of voters before they even make it to the ballot box, it’s time to step up, fight back, and show the Nation what it means to be California Strong.” California Governor Gavin Newsom just announced a special election for Nov. 4 to approve the TEMPORY redrawn districts. In closing, I reference an old “progressive” labor song, “What side are you on boys, what side are you on!” it’s time for you, and for us all, to answer that question and, for better or worse, your vote will do just that!
Hi Christian, In case you and others miss Curtis’ byline, he states: I am an old man, a 50-year resident of Shasta County, and a lifelong progressive. To steal a line from Will Rogers: “I am not a member of any organized political party. I’m a Democrat.”
Hi respect Mr. Scott’s opinion of how trying to beat an opponent at their own, and fighting fire with fire could backfire. That is a fair assumption. However, Democrats have always been proud of playing their own to achieve their goals. Sometimes with great success, sometimes we none. However, it the last 20-30 years look at what has happened to not only the Democratic party, but to our country. Thanks to Republicans, the gap between social classes has widened, the rich are richer, the poor are poorer, the middle class is practically non-existent. The Republican party has allowed unlimited dark money to control our policies, our elections, the so-called fiscally responsible party has done nothing by increased the Debt, and now we are facing cuts to medicare and medicaid, people are being arrested and deported without due process, city are being taken over but our own military, entire departments are being dismantled, science has been pushed aside, etc, etc, etc.
The Democratic party needs to change their game plan. If it sometimes meas playing the same game as the opposition to counter their abuses of power, then so be it.
But we can no longer sit back and pretend than playing our old game is going to rectify things, we are way-way pass that point.
The time to be nice has passed. We need to fight fire with fire.
if we think that the people that voted for Trump in 2024 are somehow going to see the light come the next election. With all due respect, you are all being naive. We have seen this play before, MAGA is not a political movement, it is a CULT. And cultist will follow their leader to their death.
More than a third of registered voters did not vote in the last general elections. Those are people that we need to make sure they are on our side, we need to make sure they understand what is at stake, and why California is reacting the way it is.
Extreme actions sometimes require extreme reactions.
Very well thought out Curtis, and I do believe you are correct. I hope the Democratic powers to be, get their heads out of their pockets.
Sorry Bob, if we follow Curtis’s plan we will most likely loose! People want us to FIGHT to take back our democracy from this want to be dictator. It’s “We the PEOPLE!