He's Baaack! The Governator to terminate California and Texas Gerrymandering, and the race to the bottom

How can this 78-year old former Governor dis politicians? Read this article.

SUMMARY:

California Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom, along with Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott, spurred on by the President himself, have set off a ticking time bomb in a reactionary war -- state by state -- to gerrymander congressional district lines. This never-ending quest of the two parties to force each and every voter to join their hyperpartisan, red v. blue war once again proves they know not the color purple!

The redistricting war underway in California and Texas has us convinced there is no way out without the rise of the independent voter. Who are the independents? We have no "platform", for we have a variety of views on policy. We are best understood by these two words: anti-corruption and nonpartisan. Think about it as you read this article and contact us to get involved with the anti-corruption, nonpartisan LIV.

---

Hey Texans, Let's Terminate California and Texas Gerrymandering!

Schwarzenegger has thrown down the gauntlet to terminate California Governor Gavin Newsom's "Prop 50" plan to "temporarily" put aside the California Independent Redistricting Commission now on the November 4th ballot as Prop 50 Summary here. Win or lose, we think he's on the right side of history.

The Govenator led the petition for and passage of -- after six tries -- the beloved statewide initiative for the California Independent Redistricting Commission in 2010. He doesn't give up, folks, and neither should we.

We agree with those astute political analysts who say Texas Democrats could also catch a break.

We recommend this article in the American Prospect Donald Trump Won’t Be Saved by Maps. The article rightly points out, especially focusing on Texas Latinos:

"...even in today’s polarized political environment, individuals change their minds."

What the Prospect misses, however, is that Texas Latinos and Hispanics might best be understood as independents. We independents, of all stripes, are woefully misunderstood. Donald Trump simply understood us better, at least rhetorically speaking. He convinced enough of us that he was the most anti-corruption, nonpartisan guy running. How did that happen?

Texas Democrats' power emanates from urban Texas, where many Democratic leaders have become tools of corporate lobbies, all while talking a good line about the 'hood' they just helped demolish and their continued quest to conduct water grabs in rural Texas, not to mention big-time money grabs.

Here's a current example: Democratic Mayor of Austin Kirk Watson and his $5B+ convention center "magic hole" fiasco HERE. Note: Nary an Austin Democrat will peep a word about "the hole," even as thousands of signatures are being gathered to place a measure on the Austin ballot in May -- and even after the Watson City Council placed a 15% tax hike on the November ballot!

Don't Mess With the Governator OR I&R

Message to Dems: Independents have an interest in having at least two viable parties. We love electoral competition. Please stop manipulating voters. This Columbus Dispatch article on August 21st calls the question on Newsom's so-called "temporary" redistricting fix of something that ain't broke:

"California has an independent redistricting commission that is designed to limit partisan influence on the map-drawing process, but Newsom said the measure would allow a new process to draw maps that would go into effect for House elections in 2026, 2028 and 2030, before ceding power back to the commission to draw maps ahead of 2032." See full article HERE.

The California Citizens Redistricting Commission, championed by Schwarzenegger, and petitioned for by voters for a place on the ballot when he served as Governor of California from 2003 to 2011, inspired citizens across the country to petition for and pass their own measures for IRCs.

In Texas, we used California's (especially San Diego's) as a model for the one and only IRC that exists in Texas -- in the City of Austin. One of LIV's founders, Linda Curtis, played a key role in the petition for and passage of the Austin IRC in 2012, along with "the 10-1" plan for geographic representation.*

Linda points out:

"The Newsom plan is not only an attack on independent redistricting. It's an attack on the mother of all reforms -- the initiative and referendum process. I&R is the people's legislative power to intervene when politicians of any stripe fail. Newsom and Trump are unwisely inviting a big problem with independents and populists who can make all the difference in upcoming elections."

Texas Independent's Closing Argument

Arnold Schwarzenegger calls Newsom's plan a "race to the bottom." We wholeheartedly agree! Catch Arnold's non-politician statements in this Houston Chronicle HERE. Here's one we pulled for you:

"I don't blame Gavin Newsom because I understand that he's in a very difficult position, told him, I said, ‘look, you do what you do' but I said, ‘I need to do what I need to do. You're there to protect the Democratic party,' I said, ‘I understand that because you want to go and become their leader nationwide and all of that,' I said, ‘but I have to protect the people. Someone has to be out there that's a grown-up, that's above all of that.'"

It's the Governator's Game on with Gavin and ours with King Greg. It's a great fight, folks.

Let's also terminate two-partyism and give Arnold all the muscle we can muster for an anti-corruption, nonpartisan, independent electoral revolt in 2026! ____________________________

Notes:

*Texas is one of the few western states that does not allow statewide petition rights. Only home rule cities (population of at least 5000 and a city charter) allow citizens to petition for a public vote. 

Governor Greg Abbott was a no-show on August 28, as 200 local business leaders waited for him in Kerrville, the scene of the July 4th flood disaster that's struggling with recovery. On August 29, the Governor was all over the news signing the rammed Republican redistricting maps. 

A three-judge panel at the federal court in El Paso has set a preliminary injunction hearing to determine whether the Texas maps are legal and can go into effect. Some officials are saying it's a 50-50 chance to delay the March primary. The hearing is set to begin on Oct. 1 and continues through Oct. 10. See this Community Impact news article.

Scott Braddock (Quorum Report) describes the unprecedented bottom feeding going on in the Texas Legislature as a result of the Texas Abbott/Trump gerrymander: Read the whole outrageous Braddock piece and take notes for the 2026 election HERE.

Former longtime Travis County official, Bill Aleshire, is representing Austin taxpayer advocate, Jeff Bowen, who is challenging the ballot language set for Austin's proposed 15% tax rate hike election in November. See KVUE-TV update HERE.

Oops!!! We missed this fantastic September 2 opinion-editorial by Charles Munger, Jr. in the New York Times, "Do Not Gerrymander California." Take note of what he says about Texas!

Thanks to the Texas Tribune, you can see how the Texas maps re-jiggered Texas maps may affect you HERE.

Ron Paul gives the "runaway Democrats" a break, the right to travel afforded by the U.S. Constitution.

Not the First Rodeo: The Long History of Redistricting Fights in Texas: Texas Standard, Aug. 5, 2025