Once again, California officials are proving they’ll happily exploit any crisis to consolidate power. Governor Gavin Newsom is on a crusade to sideline his state’s independent redistricting commission—an institution that once claimed a bipartisan shield. The governor’s plan to temporarily impose a new congressional map, one specifically designed to elect more Democrats, is stoking a fierce confrontation with none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger, the action-movie-legend-turned-moderate-Republican.

When Schwarzenegger led that anti-gerrymandering charge years ago, critics called him naive. He pushed for an independent group to draw fairer boundaries, making it harder for either party to rig elections. By taking redistricting out of politicians’ grubby hands, he believed he’d found a lasting antidote to partisan corruption. Now, here we are: Newsom hopes to seize the moment and overshadow that independent body so the Democrats can offset any concessions Republicans might force in other states.

It might seem surprising that Schwarzenegger, who is no fan of President Trump, is locking horns with a sitting Democrat. But it speaks volumes about the folly of Newsom’s scheme. Even with the glare of national politics turned on Governor Newsom’s every flamboyant rally, Schwarzenegger hasn’t hesitated to brand him as someone trampling the will of voters. The actor-turned-politician built his brand on a “post-partisan” approach that resonated with many Californians tired of D.C.-style bickering. Under his watch, the state commission was created to ensure accountability in redistricting. The fact that he’s now preparing to fight his own party’s shenanigans underscores just how brazen this power grab is.

Notably, Newsom shouts that he’s forced to act because Republicans are pushing for an aggressive map in Texas. The governor apparently believes his pre-emptive power play is justified to counter alleged Republican gerrymandering. It’s the classic excuse used to justify wrongdoing: “If the other side does it, so can we!” The net result is a more cynical population that sees both parties rigging the system over truly representing the people.

Aside from the legal gymnastics, this entire California fiasco points to a deeper political arrogance. Democrats in California hold power from city councils to the governor’s mansion, and now they want to go even further. At some point, one must ask: if a state’s leaders want to claim the moral high ground, they should avoid the same shady tactics they accuse Republicans of using. That principle used to matter, even in left-leaning enclaves.

Credit where it’s due: Schwarzenegger refuses to let them overturn the public’s will so easily. He’s brandishing T-shirts, rallying supporters, and vowing to preserve fair representation. Regardless of jokes about “girly men” from his Terminator-era persona, he’s determined to do the right thing. The question is whether supporters of Newsom will see reason before it’s too late.

In an environment where trust in government is already scraping bottom, it’s sad to see one of our largest states engaging in raw partisanship. Of course, the left-leaning media frames it as “necessary” or a “temporary fix.” Right. How many times have we heard that stale line before? With so many real problems—homelessness, crime, skyrocketing costs—California’s leaders apparently have time to meddle with electoral lines. Perhaps they should prioritize actually governing, but that’s never as fun as gerrymandering for political gain.

As Schwarzenegger said, the point of an independent redistricting body is to keep politicians from rigging the game. Let’s see whether the loud voices in Sacramento remember that as this battle rages on. If they remain intent on trashing the commission, the battle lines for 2026—and the fury of those who see right through these manipulations—will loom larger than ever.