Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger ripped into Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting proposal, calling it nothing greater than a “fantasy” scheme to completely entrench Democrat management underneath the guise of “short-term reform.”
Throughout a Sunday interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on State of the Union, the RINO ‘Screw Your Freedom’ former governor blasted his house state’s effort to dismantle California’s unbiased redistricting fee, warning that Democrats had been setting a harmful precedent.
Schwarzenegger mentioned the brand new Proposition 50, championed by Newsom and his Democrat allies, would “undo many years of reform” meant to stop political manipulation of voting districts.
The previous governor accused each events of making an attempt to “outcheat one another,” however he saved his harshest criticism for Newsom’s hypocrisy.
Schwarzenegger added that whereas California Democrats fixate on gerrymandering, they ignore the true crises plaguing the state — homelessness, unaffordable housing, and the nation’s highest vitality prices.
Jake Tapper:
A CBS ballot this week discovered that 62% of possible California voters help this poll measure that you simply oppose. Why do you assume you’re proper and so they’re unsuitable? And what extra are you going to do between now and Election Day to attempt to cease this from passing?Arnold Schwarzenegger:
Effectively, I’m probably not the spokesperson for the anti–Proposition 50 marketing campaign. I simply wish to defend the work that I’ve completed, as a result of we labored so laborious to get the unbiased redistricting fee in California. California was within the management on that difficulty. Then we went across the nation, promoted it across the nation, and truly satisfied about 30% of districts to have an unbiased fee.Now, rapidly, they’re undoing all of that. There’s this battle happening all around the United States — who can out-cheat the opposite one? Texas began it. They did one thing terribly unsuitable. Then rapidly, California says, “Effectively, then we have now to do one thing terribly unsuitable.” And now different states are leaping in.
That is spreading like wildfire all around the nation. It saddens me to see that we’re stepping into the wrong way slightly than having an unbiased fee draw the district traces.
Jake, I’ve to let you know, when you consider this — making an attempt to out-cheat one another slightly than outperform one another — it’s all between Democrats and Republicans. Those which can be getting left behind are the folks.
[…]
Jake Tapper:
Democratic Governor Newsom was requested this week about your efforts to foyer towards the measure… They assume Republicans are blowing up all norms and requirements for habits, and so they really feel, subsequently, they need to take extraordinary motion in response. Are their issues invalid, do you assume?Arnold Schwarzenegger:
Effectively, to start with, let me simply say that is necessary. This isn’t Governor Newsom towards me or me towards Governor Newsom. We’re buddies, and we get alongside. He got here to me and informed me about this example. We’ve been engaged on this with out attacking one another — that’s primary.Quantity two, I feel after they say that is short-term, there is no such thing as a such factor. I imply, the longest packages are authorities packages which can be “short-term.” Simply keep in mind that — if it’s a tax program or if it’s a redistricting program — something that’s short-term with authorities is everlasting.
Within the 12 months 2032, when the unbiased redistricting fee is meant to come back again, they’re going to say, “Wait a minute, there’s nonetheless gerrymandering happening in Texas. There’s nonetheless gerrymandering happening in Ohio. There’s nonetheless gerrymandering happening in Florida. We’ve got to proceed with the gerrymandering.” That’s what’s going to occur. They’ll discover an excuse.
Due to this fact, I don’t assume it’s short-term. That’s complete fantasy. The second factor is that you simply can not cheat your manner out of it. What the Democrats ought to do is outperform Trump.
Arnold Schwarzenegger:
To me, it’s all about competitors — competitors creates efficiency. What they’re doing with the redistricting fee is making an attempt to attract district traces in such a manner that they get voted in irrespective of in the event that they work effectively or not for the American folks. So the American folks get cheated.That’s actually the issue right here. I perceive that Democrats and Republicans need to struggle about this, however the ones who are usually not actually getting something out of this are the folks of America.
When you actually wish to struggle for democracy, why would you go and destroy the Structure in California — tear it up and redo the entire thing? To me, it simply doesn’t make any sense in any respect.
WATCH:
Arnold Schwarzenegger on California Gov. Gavin Newsom claiming the redistricting in his state shall be short-term: “I feel after they say that is short-term, there is no such thing as a such factor… Something that’s short-term with authorities is everlasting… They’ll discover an excuse, so subsequently I… pic.twitter.com/YAziQzW0TR
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) October 26, 2025
Schwarzenegger additionally clapped again at CNN’s Jake Tapper and referred to as out “excessive gerrymandering” in blue states, like Massachusetts and New Mexico, the place he famous that Republicans obtain almost half the vote however maintain zero congressional seats.
Jake Tapper:
As you acknowledged, this all began due to redistricting in Texas, and this was Trump pushing Republican-controlled states to throw out their present congressional maps in order to prepare dinner the books — to make it much less possible for Democrats to retake management of the Home throughout the subsequent midterms. Is it honest to argue that — do you consider the Republican Social gathering began this?Arnold Schwarzenegger:
No, Jake. There was gerrymandering happening for 200 years. There’s such excessive gerrymandering that in a state like Massachusetts, 40% of the folks voted for Trump — and the Republican Social gathering has zero representatives despatched to the Home. Take into consideration that.In New Mexico, if 45% of the folks voted for Trump and vote Republican — zero representatives from the Republican Social gathering. There’s loopy gerrymandering happening all around the nation.
We needed to attempt to cease it in California, and we did. Then we went across the nation. I feel this entire factor about finger-pointing — “They did it, so subsequently we should always do it” — that’s not the way in which to go.
One get together ought to outperform the opposite get together. It needs to be about efficiency. In relation to midterm elections, as , the get together that isn’t within the White Home normally wins by 20, 25, 30 seats. So what does 5 seats matter within the first place in Texas? It’s loopy. It is best to outperform them — that’s the place the motion is.
WATCH:
NEW: Arnold Schwarzenegger claps again at CNN’s Jake Tapper, calls out “excessive gerrymandering” in blue states.
Tapper: “Do you consider that the Republican Social gathering is beginning this?”
Schwarzenegger: “No, Jake. There was gerrymandering happening for 200 years.”
“There’s such… pic.twitter.com/ovxGJ6ll8p
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 26, 2025
