Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) had pointed words for California Governor Gavin Newsom and his plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts.

Newsom is pushing for a rare mid-decade redistricting in response to Texas lawmakers who, with the backing of President Donald Trump, just approved new maps that would create five more favorable districts to Republican candidates. Some Democratic lawmakers in the state fled to Illinois to prevent the legislature from having a quorum, but they ultimately returned.

Republicans hold a narrow lead in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Texas Republicans are hoping to increase the GOP’s chances of holding the chamber. In California, Newsom is asking voters to green-light a referendum to bypass the state’s independent redistricting commission so that the Democratic-controlled state legislature can redraw the maps.

McClintock appeared on Saturday’s Fox Report, where Jon Scott noted that Newsom said, “Direct democracy that gives us a fighting chance to STOP Donald Trump’s election rigging.”

“That’s a ludicrous statement,” McClintock responded. “The entire plan was drawn behind closed doors. The only reason the public gets to see the maps at all is that voters are required to bypass the commission and adopt them. I think that this is gonna end up being a huge headache for Newsom.”

The congressman predicted that Newsom’s efforts will fail.

“Already, liberal good government groups like the League of Women Voters are opposing it,” McClintock continued. “Common initially opposed it and then withdrew its opposition under pressure. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has impeccable credentials among independent voters, is campaigning against it. And also, I think Californians are tiring of Gavin Newsom. So, I think he’s bitten off far more than he can chew.”

Watch above via Fox News.

The post California Congressman Rails Against Newsom’s Redistricting Push, Warns Governor Has ‘Bitten off Far More Than He Can Chew’ first appeared on Mediaite.

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