Readers offer strong defense of Newsom’s redistricting push

Re “Don’t copy Trump bullying” (Aug. 22): The U-T Editorial Board’s opposition to the Newsom-led redistricting legislation misses the point entirely. If there is no pushback to the Trump/Texas remapping and other red states’ desire to do the same, then Trump will have achieved his goal of fixing the 2026 midterms in his favor. We have seen his unbridled enthusiasm for authoritarianism, and without the guardrails of checks and balances necessary to restrain him, it would only be a matter of time before he achieves his desire to be King Trump. Sometimes it’s necessary to wrestle in the mud for the sake of the country.

— Richard Rachel, University City

If Texas is allowed to disenfranchise many Democrats through gerrymandering without an opposite and equal action by California, then you are sanctioning the end of American democracy.

This country already has very limited ability to stop the Republicans’ attempt to end democracy in the United States mostly due to their immoral actions on the Supreme Court nominations of Obama and Biden. What’s good for the goose was not good for the gander. No votes during the last year of a presidency was the Republican mantra for the Obama’s and Biden’s nominations, but voting/approving a nominee was fine anytime during the last year of a GOP/Trump presidency.

What little power the Democrats have to try to stop the total loss of democracy in the U.S. hinges on control of the House of Representatives. Pusillanimously surrendering to the Republicans is the surest way to end our democracy.

— Malcolm Jarvis, Del Cerro

You’re wrong to oppose California’s redistricting. You’re correct that “two wrongs don’t make a right” and that it is “laughable” that anyone claims the moral high ground on redistricting to cheat. Trump’s trying to steal five seats. That’s wrong. Dead wrong. California is trying to stop Trump from cheating. Good. It is fighting fire with fire. If you’re against cheating, there’s no other choice.

— Chris Pearson, Spring Valley

Sorry, I stand with Newsom. With Trump in power, there will be no “high ground” left. That is how dangerous he is. We can’t stand by and allow him to tamper with elections — a democracy’s sacred soul! He is a lout, a cheat and should be in jail right now for trying to overthrow the 2020 election! This country has lost its mind, and the Union-Tribune’s editorial is exactly wrong.

— Chet Chebegia, San Marcos