Critics, including Republican consultant and redistricting expert Matt Rexroad, argue the new districts are political weapons rather than fair representations.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California’s new congressional maps are already sparking political backlash, with supporters saying they protect Democrats in tight races and critics calling them blatant gerrymandering.
Paul Mitchell, the consultant who drew the maps, says he aimed to build on the work of California’s independent commission but acknowledges politics played a role.
“We have these 5 Democratic pickups, but we also have about 5 seats where we have Democrats who maybe won by a couple 100 votes in the last election, and we can’t afford for a Republican to pick that seat up and eat into these potential gains,” said Mitchell. So we did a lot to bolster Democratic candidates up and down the state that are potentially in tough races like Adam Gray in the Central Valley.”
Critics, including Republican consultant and redistricting expert Matt Rexroad, argue the new districts are political weapons rather than fair representations.
“This is a perfect example of why the voters took the line drawing of district maps throughout California away from politicians,” said Rexroad. “It’s an embarrassment and it’s a sheer power play by the governor.”
He points to one district (District 3) shaped “like the head of an elephant,” saying it clearly plays political games.
Democratic strategist Andrew Acosta acknowledges the maps may achieve their goal but questions transparency.
“To dilute some of these Republican seats they got to go find Democrats and it looks like they have chopped the City of Sacramento up into small bites. This is what people would call gerrymandering,” said Acosta.
He notes the effort will likely cost more than $100 million to convince voters and could confuse residents about why unrelated areas are grouped together.
Republican strategist Rob Stutzman says the maps aim to lock down Democratic gains while drastically reducing Republican representation.
“In a state where Republicans get about 40-42% of the vote in statewide elections. These (proposed) maps are going to yield about a 9 percent representation in congress for Republicans,” said Stutzman.
He warns that if voters see politicians “choosing their voters,” public cynicism could rise.
The proposed maps also carry political ripple effects. Analysts say the new lines could spark unexpected campaigns, with politicians eyeing new districts and maneuvering in the coming weeks. Most voters, though typically unaware of redistricting, will face heavy advertising on the issue.
Lawmakers are expected to review the maps next week, and if approved, these districts could reshape California’s congressional landscape.
WATCH MORE ON ABC10 | California Redistricting: What’s Next