Arnold Schwarzenegger rejects Gavin Newsom’s 'fire with fire' fight on redistricting, vows voter-led plan
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: California Governor Gavin Newsom’s plan to redraw the state’s congressional maps to counter Donald Trump-backed gerrymandering push in Texas has drawn sharp criticism from an unlikely source, former Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Although both have previously stood united against Trump’s MAGA agenda, Schwarzenegger is refusing to support Newsom’s “fight fire with fire” strategy.
Arnold Schwarzenegger blasts Gavin Newsom’s redistricting plan
Schwarzenegger, who served as governor from 2003 to 2011, took to Instagram wearing a shirt that read, “F**k the politicians. Terminate gerrymandering,” signaling his opposition to any form of partisan map-drawing.
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His chief of staff, Daniel Ketchell, clarified to Vanity Fair that the message targeted both Trump’s Texas scheme and Newsom’s California proposal.
“Governor Schwarzenegger has a 20-year history of battling gerrymandering, taking power from the politicians and returning it to the people where it belongs, and he believes gerrymandering is evil no matter who does it,” Ketchell said.
Speaking to The New York Times, Schwarzenegger said his position would not change: “I hate the idea of the Republicans redrawing the district lines in Texas as much as I hate what the Californians are trying to do. But I’m thinking now about California, and about the people of California. I promised them that we are going to create a commission that would be independent of the politicians, and there will be an independent citizens’ commission drawing the lines. So I’m not going to go back on my promise. I’m going to fight for my promise.”
Gavin Newsom defends 'fire with fire' approach
Gavin Newsom announced his plan on Thursday, August 14, pledging to hold a special election to redraw California’s congressional districts and create five new Democratic seats to offset potential Republican gains in Texas.
“I know they say don’t mess with Texas. Well, don’t mess with the great Golden State,” Newsom said at a Los Angeles press conference, framing the move as a necessary defense of democracy against Donald Trump’s demand that Texas “find me five seats.”
Courtni Pugh, an advisor to Newsom’s campaign, acknowledged Schwarzenegger’s longstanding opposition to gerrymandering but dismissed his criticism.
“We agree with the former governor on the urgent need for national independent redistricting, but [we] fundamentally disagree on this moment of crisis. Trump and his Texas cronies are trying to rig the 2026 election before a single person has voted. This is a five-alarm fire for our democracy.”
Trump’s map push sparks California clash
For months, Donald Trump has pressured Republican governors to redraw state maps to secure a GOP House majority. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has already called a special legislative session expected to add five Republican congressional seats.
In Indiana, Trump personally urged Governor Mike Braun to take similar steps, even sending Vice President JD Vance to lobby state leaders.
Gavin Newsom’s press event in Los Angeles was met with a visible show of force as armed, masked ICE agents assembled outside. LA Mayor Karen Bass called it “completely unacceptable,” while Newsom described it as “pretty sick and pathetic,” saying it revealed “everything one needs to know about Donald Trump’s America.”
Despite opposing Newsom’s plan, Arnold Schwarzenegger has repeatedly condemned Trump, even endorsing Kamala Harris for president in 2024. He emphasized that his disagreement with Newsom is not personal: “He was kind enough to let me know what he’s up to and how he feels. I told him: ‘I totally get it. I understand it.’ I said, ‘There’s no effect on our relationship.’”
