LaMalfa Reacts to California Legislature Advancing Redistricting

Chico, CA—Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after the California State Assembly and California State Senate passed three bills allowing for a constitutional amendment to let Democrats unilaterally redraw congressional districts.

“Democrats acted to solely benefit personal political ambitions. The facade about it being about other states came down when they removed the “trigger mechanism” that this scheme would only take effect in response to actions in other states. Even more, the fact that the Democrats in the legislature refuse to acknowledge who drew these maps should make clear to anyone that this is crafted for termed-out state legislators to have tailor made seats in Congress, not equal representation. No one can look at these maps—one with a district spreading from Modoc to Marin, another shaped like a giant elephant with a trunk to bring in downtown Sacramento with Tahoe, or sticking Lassen and Plumas counties way over on the Nevada border with Santa Rosa in a coastal county—and say they appear credible. Do you really think the former senior environmental lawyer for NRDC is going to protect or represent ranchers, farmers, or water users? 

“No state should be doing mid-decade redistricting unless directed by a court or forced to. Voters in California have voted overwhelmingly twice to prevent partisan redistricting. I will fight to make sure Northern California is represented by someone they elect, not someone Sacramento Democrats selected in a back room.”

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

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