Newsom Accused of Vote Trading and Bribery During Redistricting Scheme

Townhall.com ^ | August 20, 2025 3:30 PM | Katie Pavlich

[E. Pluribus Unum]

California State Representatives are calling on the Department of Justice to investigate Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom's scheme to rig the state's congressional elections with new gerrymandering and accusing liberal lawmakers of bribery.  

From a letter written to Attorney General Pam Bondi Wednesday and signed by Assembly members Carl DeMaio, James Gallagher, Leticia Castillo, Health Hadwick, David Tangipa and State Senators Tony Strickland and Marie Alvarado-Gil: 

We write to request that the US Department of Justice consider opening an immediate investigation into allegations of corruption and illegality involving members of the California state legislature and their current redistricting scheme. 

As you may be aware, California state legislators - upon the Governor's demand - have initiated an unprecedented and unnecessary mid-cycle redistricting effort. Article 21 of the California state constitution expressly prohibits such an effort and public opinion is solidly against the idea of mullifying the independent Citizens Redistricting Commission and handing the power back to politicians to manipulate the lines of their own districts." 

In recent days alarming allegations have surfaced that may explain why state legislators are proceeding forward with such a blatantly unconstitutional and politically unpopular proposal. Specifically, various media outlets are reporting that several members of the state legislature may have not only engaged in drawing the lines of these maps to benefit themselves politically but may be providing their vote for these proposals on the condition that the maps are drawn to benefit themselves. As just one example, KCRA reported that one powerful senator "had one of the new, targeted districts drawn specifically for him in exchange for his support of the redistricting plan." 

This kind of backroom dealing and possibility for vote-trading by politicians is the very reason why California voters passed ballot initiatives in 2008 and again in 2010 to take...

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TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: gavinnewsom; newsom; newsomfornia

[Political Junkie Too]

What's worse is that the maps are illegal until the amendment is passed. They can't qualify it for the ballot as an illegal map.

-PJ

[vpintheak]

LOVE IT! Hit these SOB’s with some lawfare of their own! Could the GOP be waking up and starting to fight and not be a bunch of feckless go-along do nothings?

[God luvs America]

1000%

[frank ballenger]

Newsom’s going to chicken out and turn in his co-conspirators. will have a bluetooth camera and microphone in his hair.
“Why do you keep bowing your head toward me, Gavin? What’s up. Are you wired?”

[BenLurkin]

In other words, business as usual in Corruptafornia.

[j.havenfarm]

I heard that and it sounds correct: to our FRiends for clarification: maps can be voted on by the voters, but only maps drawn by the Redistricting Commission are legal and can be voted on. The proposed constitutional amendment would suspend the commission for 4 years. What PJ is suggesting is that the amendment has to pass first, and the maps would have to in a second election. I think he right. And there’s no time to do two elections before the time for candidates to decllare for 2026

[EQAndyBuzz]

Let’s face it. Newsome is playing FAFO with Texas and the administration, hoping his threat is enough to stop Texas in its tracks. Wait till Texas grabs more companies looking to get out of Taxesfornia. More jobs, more people, more redistricting. Thank you Gavin.

[Political Junkie Too]

That is exactly correct, and I posted the whole timeline here.

To put it simply: would Californians tolerate putting an illegal candidate on a ballot with the same proposed law that makes him a legal candidate?

The obvious answer is no, because that illegal candidate cannot campaign prior to the election as an illegal candidate. He would have to wait for the law to pass that legalizes his campaign, and then run in the next election after that.

It's the same with the maps. They call it "piggybacking" -- a second item on a ballot cannot exist with another ballot item that authorizes it. They have to be single-threaded in separate elections.

-PJ

[midwest_hiker]

Can you pass a bill that temporarily blocks a state’s amendment. Just to pass a new bill that would otherwise be illegal.
Then when the amendment restarts, the action is again illegal.

[Waverunner]

Remember, you are talking about california.

[Political Junkie Too]

Even in California, there are limits to what one can get away with. The 9th Circuit isn't as liberal as it used to be.

-PJ