Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger dismissed current Gov. Gavin Newsom’s argument that the proposed redistricting in the state was temporary, calling the notion “total fantasy.”
“I think when he — when they say this is temporary, there is no such thing. I mean, the longest programs are government programs that are temporary. Okay, just remember that if this is a tax program or if it is the redistricting program, anything that is temporary with government is permanent,” he told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union,” responding to a clip of Newsom touting his Proposition 50 legislation that would reshape congressional seats.
Voting opened last week to add as many as five Democrat-held seats in Congress, which could possibly offset President Donald Trump’s moves in Texas and elsewhere to help Republicans in the 2026 election. Obama endorsed Prop 50 this week.
“In the year 2032 when the independent redistricting commission is supposed to come back, they‘re going to say, ‘Wait a minute. There‘s still gerrymandering going on in Texas. There‘s still gerrymandering going on in Ohio. There‘s still gerrymandering going on in Florida. We have to continue with gerrymandering.’ This is what‘s going to happen. They will find an excuse. So therefore I don‘t think it is temporary. So that‘s total fantasy,” Schwarzenegger said.
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