Fact-Check: Did California Voters Really Reject Newsom’s Redistricting Plan by 28 Points?

In the past week, headlines have been flying around claiming that California voters just delivered a crushing blow to Governor Gavin Newsom’s plan to take redistricting power away from the state’s independent commission and hand it back to lawmakers. Some are celebrating it, others are calling it “fake news.” So what’s actually true here?

The Poll Is Real

The numbers 64% opposed, 36% in favor come from a new UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS) poll, conducted in partnership with Politico. This isn’t a fringe outlet; IGS polls are among the most trusted in California politics.

The Proposal Is Real

Governor Newsom and some California Democrats floated the idea of scrapping the state’s independent redistricting commission (which was created by voters to stop gerrymandering) and giving the power back to Sacramento lawmakers. The justification was that Republicans in red states like Texas and Florida have redrawn their maps for partisan advantage so why should California “play fair” while others don’t?

Why People Say It’s “Fake News”

It hasn’t happened yet. This is only a proposal. Some critics argue that saying “Newsom is gerrymandering” makes it sound like maps are already being redrawn, which isn’t true yet.

Partisan spin. Supporters of Newsom’s idea say the poll is being weaponized to make him look weaker than he is. Opponents say it proves he’s out of step with voters. Both sides have reasons to exaggerate.

Distrust in polls. Some voters don’t trust polling at all and dismiss results they don’t like as “fake.”

The Bottom Line

The claim is not fake. Both the poll and the proposal exist. What’s up for debate is how people interpret it. At this point, voters appear overwhelmingly opposed to handing redistricting power back to politicians a clear signal that Californians still want the independent commission in charge.

So when you hear people calling it a lie, remember: the numbers are real. The spin is in how each side chooses to frame them.

Also Read: Starmer at the White House: Political Theater While Ukraine Gets Sold Out

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