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 beneath 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 residence state’s effort to dismantle California’s impartial redistricting fee, warning that Democrats have been setting a harmful precedent.
Schwarzenegger stated 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 attempting 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 seemingly California voters help this poll measure that you simply oppose. Why do you suppose you’re proper and so they’re incorrect? And what extra are you going to do between now and Election Day to attempt to cease this from passing?Arnold Schwarzenegger:
Nicely, I’m probably not the spokesperson for the anti–Proposition 50 marketing campaign. I simply wish to defend the work that I’ve accomplished, as a result of we labored so exhausting to get the impartial redistricting fee in California. California was within the management on that difficulty. Then we went across the nation, promoted it across the nation, and really satisfied about 30% of districts to have an impartial fee.Now, rapidly, they’re undoing all of that. There’s this conflict happening everywhere in the United States — who can out-cheat the opposite one? Texas began it. They did one thing terribly incorrect. Then rapidly, California says, “Nicely, then we’ve got to do one thing terribly incorrect.” And now different states are leaping in.
That is spreading like wildfire everywhere in the nation. It saddens me to see that we’re entering into the wrong way quite than having an impartial fee draw the district traces.
Jake, I’ve to let you know, when you concentrate on this — attempting to out-cheat one another quite than outperform one another — it’s all between Democrats and Republicans. Those which are getting left behind are the individuals.
[…]
Jake Tapper:
Democratic Governor Newsom was requested this week about your efforts to foyer in opposition to the measure… They suppose Republicans are blowing up all norms and requirements for conduct, and so they really feel, subsequently, they need to take extraordinary motion in response. Are their considerations invalid, do you suppose?Arnold Schwarzenegger:
Nicely, to start with, let me simply say that is necessary. This isn’t Governor Newsom in opposition to me or me in opposition to 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 believe after they say that is short-term, there isn’t any such factor. I imply, the longest packages are authorities packages which are “short-term.” Simply do not forget 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 yr 2032, when the impartial redistricting fee is meant to return 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 may discover an excuse.
Subsequently, I don’t suppose it’s short-term. That’s whole fantasy. The second factor is that you simply can’t cheat your method 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 attempting to attract district traces in such a method that they get voted in irrespective of in the event that they work effectively or not for the American individuals. So the American individuals get cheated.That’s actually the issue right here. I perceive that Democrats and Republicans need to combat about this, however the ones who aren’t actually getting something out of this are the individuals of America.
If you happen to actually wish to combat 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 might be short-term: “I believe after they say that is short-term, there isn’t any such factor… Something that’s short-term with authorities is everlasting… They may 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 known as out “excessive gerrymandering” in blue states, like Massachusetts and New Mexico, the place he famous that Republicans obtain practically 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 cook dinner the books — to make it much less seemingly for Democrats to retake management of the Home through the subsequent midterms. Is it truthful to argue that — do you imagine the Republican Occasion 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 individuals voted for Trump — and the Republican Occasion has zero representatives despatched to the Home. Take into consideration that.In New Mexico, if 45% of the individuals voted for Trump and vote Republican — zero representatives from the Republican Occasion. There’s loopy gerrymandering happening everywhere in the nation.
We needed to attempt to cease it in California, and we did. Then we went across the nation. I believe this complete factor about finger-pointing — “They did it, so subsequently we should always do it” — that’s not the way in which to go.
One social gathering ought to outperform the opposite social gathering. It ought to be about efficiency. In terms of midterm elections, as you realize, the social gathering 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’s 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 imagine that the Republican Occasion 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
