ALEN BLANCO HERNANDEZ 2035

Redistricting Map Authors Hidden & Unconstitutional Process

California established an independent redistricting commission in 2010 to prevent partisan manipulation of congressional maps. The legislature is not supposed to draw or vote on these maps until voters approve changes via constitutional amendments like ACA 8 (Prop 50). Instead, undisclosed individuals drew maps prematurely, and the legislature rushed them to a vote and passed them. This is completely unconstitutional.

Gut-And-Amend Maneuver & Extreme Fast-Tracking

 The bills (ACA 8, SB 604, AB 270) were originally unrelated active bills that had undergone the 30-day public comment period. Lawmakers crossed out the original text and replaced it with entirely new redistricting language, a tactic known as gut-and-amend. Because of this, the bills were printed and introduced on a Monday and passed by Thursday, with Governor Newsom signing them in only four days. This bypassed normal legislative scrutiny and public input.

16,000 Public Comments Dismissed

Two Assemblymembers formally requested that 16,000 public comments be read into the record. The committee refused not only to read them but to even review them, openly stating this on the record. This was a direct denial of public participation.

Bill Language Withheld From Minority Party

Democrats were given access to the final redistricting bill language ahead of time, while the minority party were intentionally kept in the dark. This violates transparency and equal access in the legislative process.

Legislators Admitted They Don’t Read Bills 

Multiple members openly stated that they vote on bills without reading them first, undermining their constitutional duty to represent the people in an informed manner.

Openly Partisan Purpose & Manipulation

On record, committee members admitted that the intent of these bills was to reduce or eliminate minority party influence — proving the process is openly partisan and not about fair representation. The timing makes it worse: this was pushed through at the very end of the legislative session, just before the 2026 midterms. The maps are deliberately drawn to consolidate Democrat strongholds and eliminate five congressional seats. Committee members have publicly stated this was their goal, making the process not only partisan but fundamentally unlawful.

Justified Breaking Procedure

When challenged, members defended their actions by saying, “others did it before” or “times are different now.” They treated past misconduct as a precedent, instead of upholding the law.

Microphones Cut Off

When difficult questions were asked, committee members cut off the microphones, effectively silencing opposing voices, then rushed a vote without full discussion.

Fiscal Impact Summary

California is already facing a significant budget shortfall, with a projected $20 billion deficit for the 2025‑26 fiscal year. Prop 50 would add to this burden, with estimates suggesting the special election alone could cost taxpayers $200+ million. This means the state would be spending a massive sum on a partisan redistricting initiative while already struggling to cover essential services..