Former Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger teased a potential return to politics…
On Friday, the Hollywood icon teased a fight with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) redistricting push in a post on social media as Democrats in the state look to redraw their maps in response to similar moves in Texas, which triggered some lawmakers to flee the state.
“I’m getting ready for the gerrymandering battle,” Schwarzenegger wrote, including a photo of him lifting weights. He also wore a shirt that read “F*** the politicians” and “terminate gerrymandering.”
California is moving forward with their own plans to redraw their state’s map as it looks to neutralize a proposed House map in Texas that would net the Republicans five seats there.
“We’re putting maps on the ballot, and we’re giving the power to the people,” Newsom said at a rally on Thursday. “This will be the first redistricting that’s ever done that. That’s the difference.”
California is expected to see a special election over the mid-decade redistricting in November.
“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. He still stands by the rule we learn in pre-school: two wrongs don’t make a right,” Daniel Ketchell, a spokesman for the former governor, said in a statement earlier this year.
“He will continue to be on the side of the people and not politicians – from either party – on this issue,” he added.
