Hollywood icon and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is making a dramatic return to the political stage at the age of 78. This fall, he will lead a high-stakes campaign against a controversial redrawing of electoral districts, a move he argues could dismantle the very foundations of American democracy by creating a de facto one-party system.
The conflict centers on a practice known in the U.S. as “gerrymandering”—the manipulation of electoral boundaries to give one political party an insurmountable advantage. With both the Democratic and Republican parties attempting to leverage this strategy, many fear the nation’s political system could be fundamentally altered, undermining the balance of power that underpins American democracy.
The current political firestorm was ignited in Texas, where the Republican-led state government redrew districts to favor their party in future elections, an initiative publicly backed by President Donald Trump. In a direct response, Democrats in California, a state they dominate, have initiated a similar plan to redraw districts in their favor. This proposal will be put to California voters in a referendum on November 4, marking the official battleground for Schwarzenegger’s return.
Schwarzenegger, a Republican who served two terms as governor of the heavily Democratic state from 2003 to 2011, is spearheading a public campaign to convince voters to reject the measure. He represents a wing of the Republican party that is increasingly at odds with President Trump’s leadership, framing his fight as a stand for principle over partisan gain, despite his age and recent health issues.
A vocal critic of the President, Schwarzenegger argues that allowing either party to redraw maps for political gain sets a dangerous, contagious precedent. His campaign warns that if unchecked, such partisan tactics could spread nationwide, fundamentally corrupting the electoral process. “The temptation is great… to get an absolute majority… simply by redrawing electoral districts,” notes Vladimir Vasiliev, an analyst at the Institute for US and Canadian Studies, highlighting the political calculations at play in a deeply polarized America.
While supporters of redistricting point to historical precedents of single-party dominance, opponents argue that today’s political climate, shaped by a figure like Trump, makes the risk of authoritarianism far greater. The November vote in California will be a crucial test of public sentiment. However, Schwarzenegger’s ultimate impact remains in question. While respected in California, he faces a significant challenge in a state that leans heavily Democratic, and his prospects for leading a broader national movement against Trump are considered slim.