WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) released the following statement alongside the entire California Republican Congressional delegation following Governor Newsom’s press conference announcing his intent to disenfranchise California voters and overturn the independent redistricting commission:

“In 2010, California voters passed the VOTERS FIRST Act by over 20 points, giving the independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission the sole authority of drawing California’s congressional districts. Today Governor Newsom and California Democrats have announced that they will attempt to take power away from the Citizens Commission and place it back into the hands of Sacramento politicians to further the political agenda of Gavin Newsom.  

The Commission received feedback from tens of thousands of Californians as to their communities of interest which shaped the current set of congressional districts. Districts that represent the local communities that they live in rather than the whims of one political party. A partisan political gerrymander is NOT what the voters of California want as they clearly stated when they passed the VOTERS FIRST Act and participated in the Citizens Redistricting Commission process.  As it stands, Republicans only hold nine congressional seats out of 52 despite winning 38% of the vote statewide.

It’s a shame that Governor Newsom and the radical Left in Sacramento are willing to spend $200 million on a statewide special election, while running a deficit of $20 billion, in order to silence the opposition in our state.

As a Delegation we will fight this disenfranchisement of California voters by whatever means necessary to ensure the will of the people continues to be reflected in redistricting and in our elections.”

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