Senator Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-Santa Clarita) has issued a statement following the California Legislature’s approval of Governor Gavin Newsom’s redistricting legislative package. The bill, which passed on a party-line vote, is set to move to the Governor’s desk and could later appear on a statewide ballot.
In her statement, Senator Valladares criticized the process by which the legislation was approved. “Today, California’s majority party rammed through Governor Newsom’s unconstitutional redistricting maps. In doing so, they ignored our Constitution and stripped power away from the independent, voter-approved Citizens Redistricting Commission.”
Valladares also noted that she had proposed an amendment intended to hold lawmakers to the same standard as members of the Citizens Redistricting Commission. “I offered a simple amendment: if politicians want to overturn the rules and draw their own districts, then they should live by the same standard as the commissioners — a 10-year ban on running for office. It failed on a straight party-line vote. That tells you everything.”
She continued by characterizing the legislation as self-serving for elected officials: “This is a blatant power grab — politicians protecting themselves at the expense of voters. But we will not stop, we will continue to fight this abuse.”
Valladares concluded with a call for transparency in government processes: “Californians deserve fair maps, transparent elections, and leaders who respect the will of the people. We won’t give up that fight,” said Senator Valladares.
The proposal now awaits further action from Governor Newsom before it can be placed before voters across California.
