'It's bad politics': Why California Republicans are avoiding Donald Trump -- and muscling in behind Arnold Schwarzenegger [View all]
SACRAMENTO, California In the long-running feud between Donald Trump and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Republicans in Californias redistricting wars are quickly settling on who they want and dont want on their side.
On one hand is Schwarzenegger, the former governor and movie star who, in the name of reforms he championed over a decade ago, is preparing to terminate Gov. Gavin Newsoms gerrymandering campaign. He is, by one measure, the most popular Republican in the country.
On the other?
Republicans in California arent talking about Trump and redistricting because its bad politics, said Jon Fleischman, a political strategist and former executive director of the California GOP.
For years, Republicans in competitive races across the country have struggled with how closely to associate themselves with the polarizing president. But in this heavily Democratic state following a summer of broadsides from the administration including immigration raids that unsettled even many Republicans Trump-aversion is in full swing.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/06/california-republicans-muscling-behind-schwarzenegger-00546546