State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil (R-Jackson) has publicly criticized Governor Gavin Newsom’s recently approved redistricting initiative, describing it as an attempt by legislative Democrats to manipulate electoral boundaries for partisan advantage.
“This power grab is purely driven by the governor’s presidential ambitions and not by what benefits Californians or the state itself,” said Senator Alvarado-Gil. “Californians deserve a voice in how their districts are drawn, not backroom deal-making.”
The governor’s plan involves discarding the map created by the Citizens Redistricting Commission—a body previously established through voter approval to ensure independent district mapping. Instead, a new map would be developed without public participation. The proposal also calls for a special statewide election this November, with costs projected to reach up to $250 million.
Senator Alvarado-Gil accused Democratic lawmakers of lacking transparency despite their claims. She argued that such measures undermine safeguards intended to protect voters and democratic processes in California.
“We’ve witnessed the consequences of one-party control in California—escalating costs, underperforming schools, unsafe communities, and the erosion of our freedoms. Governor Newsom’s attempts to consolidate power by dismantling voter-protection safeguards threatens the foundation of our democracy. California belongs to its people, not to its politicians,” Alvarado-Gil concluded.
Residents from Senate District 4 have also voiced opposition. A Tuolumne County constituent said, “The process has been perverted. The citizens should be making these decisions!” Another from Calaveras County added concerns about fiscal priorities: “Politicians taking power away from the people to give to politicians… the money spent on the special election should be going to other more important issues like education or countless other issues.”
