The gerrymandering push by California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing strong public opposition, with nearly two-thirds of California voters—61 percent of Democrats included—saying they want to keep the state’s independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. The new Politico-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab poll found that only 36 percent support returning redistricting authority to the Democrat-controlled Legislature.
Support for the commission is bipartisan. Sixty-six percent of Republicans, 61 percent of Democrats, and 72 percent of independents favor leaving congressional map-drawing in the hands of the independent panel created in 2008. This stance directly conflicts with Newsom’s proposal for a ballot measure as early as November that could temporarily give legislators power to redraw maps, potentially adding up to five more Democratic seats.
Newsom has attempted to frame his gerrymandering push as a response to Texas Republicans’ redistricting efforts ahead of the 2026 midterms. However, unlike Texas, California requires a ballot measure to change redistricting rules, limiting when and how lines can be redrawn.
Jack Citrin, a political science professor at the University of California, Berkeley, explained the poll results: “It’s not surprising, in the sense that California has voted twice for this independent review commission not all that long ago. And there’s a lot of mistrust and cynicism about politicians and the Legislature. That’s reflected here as well.” He warned Democrats, “If this is the starting point, then they will have a struggle.”
