Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed the most ambitious bill, Assembly Bill 1248, which aimed to establish independent redistricting commissions in cities and counties across the state with more than 300,000 residents, as well as in school and community college districts with more than 500,000 residents.
Additionally, Newsom blocked Senate Bill 52, which sought to create independent panels in large charter cities, including the scandal-ridden Los Angeles City Council. This move was prompted by a leaked recording in which city council members were heard making racist comments and scheming to manipulate district lines in their favor.
While Newsom did sign two less sweeping redistricting bills as backup options, supporters of the broader reform were disappointed. They argue that an independent and unbiased commission is essential for rebuilding trust between communities and their government and ensuring that communities can choose their elected representatives instead of politicians manipulating electoral boundaries.
In his veto message for AB 1248, Newsom expressed his commitment to community control over the redistricting process but cited budget concerns, suggesting that the bill would create a substantial state-reimbursable mandate, which should be considered in the annual budget process. However, proponents argued that the bill’s costs wouldn’t impact the state budget significantly until the next census in 2030, which marks the next redistricting cycle.
Newsom did sign AB 764, a safety-net measure that addresses ambiguities in current redistricting laws, explicitly banning consideration of incumbency and enhancing standards for public engagement. He also approved SB 314 and AB 34, establishing citizens redistricting commissions for the Sacramento County board of supervisors and Orange County, respectively.
These counties joined others that have already adopted independent panels for redistricting, either due to previous state laws or by choice. In Los Angeles, there is an ongoing effort to establish an independent redistricting commission via a ballot measure in November 2024, while San Francisco is working to modernize its existing independent redistricting commission.
Redistricting is the process of redrawing electoral maps after each census to ensure equal representation, preventing vote dilution. A statewide independent commission has been responsible for drawing state Senate, state Assembly, and U.S. House districts since 2010, taking this authority away from the Legislature. However, extending independent panels to local redistricting has been a stop-and-start endeavor.
Despite the disappointment over the veto of AB 1248, some considered it a victory. The California State Association of Counties, Rural County Representatives of California, and Urban Counties of California opposed the bill initially due to concerns about the resources it would require. They believed that such mandates should come with corresponding budget allocations to prevent counties from being set up for failure, which would further erode public trust in the redistricting process and democratic systems.
While the veto was not entirely unexpected, given the contentious nature of redistricting, it was Newsom’s reasoning that surprised observers. However, experts and advocates maintain that the push for independent commissions is far from over and that well-designed, independent systems are crucial for improving representation and results for all voters, particularly those who have been historically marginalized.
