Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger pushed back against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s defense of Proposition 50, dismissing the idea that the proposed redistricting changes are only temporary. Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, Schwarzenegger called the claim “total fantasy,” arguing that “the longest programs are government programs that are temporary.”
Proposition 50, backed by President Obama and supported by California Democrats, would add up to five congressional seats likely to favor Democrats — a move seen as an effort to counter redistricting maneuvers by Republicans in Texas and other states ahead of the 2026 elections.

Schwarzenegger warned that such “temporary” measures rarely end, predicting that once 2032 arrives — when the state’s independent redistricting commission is supposed to return — lawmakers will simply find new justifications to continue. “They will say there’s still gerrymandering in Texas or Florida, so they have to keep going. That’s how government works — it never ends,” he said.

The former governor, a longtime advocate for nonpartisan redistricting, accused both parties of “cheating the American people” through gerrymandering. “Democrats should try to outperform Trump, not redraw the lines to guarantee victory,” he said. “When they manipulate the districts, voters lose — that’s the real problem.”

Newsom, defending the measure, told critics to “spare me the moral high ground,” insisting Proposition 50 is a necessary response to Republican-led gerrymandering in other states.

Despite their public disagreement, Schwarzenegger said he and Newsom remain on good terms and have spoken privately about the issue. On social media, Schwarzenegger doubled down on his opposition, sharing a photo of himself at the gym wearing a “terminate gerrymandering” t-shirt — a nod to his famous movie role and his decades-long push for political fairness.