Schwarzenegger says Newsom’s claim on redistricting plan ‘complete fantasy’

California ex-Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger He dismissed current governor Gavin Newsom’s argument that the state’s proposed redistricting is temporary, calling the idea “complete fantasy.”

“I think when they say — when they say it’s temporary, it’s not. I mean, the longest programs are temporary government programs. Well, just remember whether it’s a tax program or whether it’s a redistribution program, anything that’s temporary in government is permanent,” he told CNN’s Jake Tapper in response to a “State of the Union0” clip. Which will shape the Congress seats.

Voting started last week Adding up to five Democrat-held seats in Congress, which could potentially offset the president Donald TrumpTexas and elsewhere are running to help Republicans in the 2026 election. Obama endorsed Prop 50 this week.

“When the Independent Redistricting Commission comes back in 2032, they’re going to say, ‘Wait a minute. There’s still gerrymandering in Texas. There’s still gerrymandering in Ohio. There’s still gerrymandering in Florida. We want to keep gerrymandering.’ This is what will happen. They will find an excuse. So I don’t think it’s temporary. So it’s a total fantasy,” Schwarzenegger said.

Arnold Schwarzenegger 1 Oct. Addressing the 2025 International Conference on Climate Justice in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks at a press conference. California Governor Announces 11 Insulin and Prescription Drugs in the CalRX Program 2025. (Getty Images via Maria Grazia Picciarella/Middle East Images/AFP; Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Redistricting battle: Newsom vows to fight ‘fire with fire’

Newsom responded to those opposed to Proposition 50 by saying, “Leave me the moral high ground.”

Schwarzenegger called the redistricting efforts a fraud and said Democrats needed to get past Trump.

“What the Democrats have to do is they have to get past Trump. In my opinion, it’s all about creating a competitive performance. And so what they do with the redistricting commission is they go and try to draw district lines in a way that they’re going to get voted out, whether it’s going to work well for the American people or not. So the whole problem here is cheating the American people,” he said.

Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks during an honorary doctorate ceremony at the Hurti School on September 17, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. (Tristar Media/WireImage)

Abbott, Texas Republican make new push for Trump-backed redistricting as Democrats flee to end walkout

The former Republican California governor said he understood Republicans and Democrats needed to “fight” about it, but argued the American people were being duped.

“I think if you really want to fight for democracy, why would you destroy the California constitution, tear it up and redo it, do the whole thing? So in my opinion, it doesn’t make sense,” he added.

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks in Los Angeles on March 26, 2025. (Fraser Harrison/WireImage)

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Schwarzenegger is out In a post on social media against redistricting efforts, he posted a photo of himself at the gym wearing a T-shirt that read “End Gerrymandering.”

The former governor also told CNN that he and Newsom were friendly and talked about the issue. Schwarzenegger said they were talking about it without attacking each other.

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