The California Legislature’s voted today to place Governor Newsom’s redistricting proposal before voters this November. While supporters framed this as a necessary counter to actions in Texas, I believe strongly that California should continue to uphold the standards of nonpartisan redistricting established by voters in 2010.

From the start, my advocacy has centered on one core value: California should not follow other states down the path of gerrymandering. I do not believe in answering political overreach with more political overreach. ‘What-aboutism’ political action is short-sided and it does not build stability for our residents or businesses.

I commend lawmakers from both sides of the aisle who spoke out against this measure, including Democrats who expressed reluctance about abandoning the independent process, and the Republican legislators who urged their colleagues in Texas not to proceed with mid-decade redistricting at all. That is leadership rooted in principle, honoring the existing will of the voters, and it reflects the kind of restraint that preserves the long-term health of our democracy. 

Why This Affects Lodi
Some may see this purely as a partisan fight. But from a local perspective, it’s about political stability. Anyone who has done advocacy work knows how difficult it is to build traction with even one congressional representative. If passed, and the district lines shift back and forth over the next decade, Lodi residents and businesses would have to divide their advocacy across multiple lawmakers, diluting our voice on important local issues.

Currently we’re working on some big initiatives with our current representative Josh Harder. The City of Lodi is heavily pursuing opportunities tied to the potential hydrogen hub project. At the same time, business advocates in our region are collaborating with Representative Harder to address international trade challenges that threaten our wine industry. In order for these efforts to be successful, they demand strong working relationships with our elected officials. They cannot succeed if our community is tossed from one district to another in a political tug-of-war.

Looking Ahead
This measure will now go before California voters in November. Regardless of the outcome, my position remains the same: redistricting should be independent, fair, and nonpartisan. I will continue to advocate for stability in governance, so that we can focus on the true priorities such as growing our local economy, protecting local jobs, and ensuring that Lodi has a strong and consistent voice in Sacramento and Washington.