Newsom-style redistricting efforts critiqued by California Democrats as recently as July, statements show

"But in just a few weeks, a mysterious case of collective (and selective) amnesia seems to have set in. Let's rewind the tape and hear them in their own words."

"I know there are some downsides. Of course, the devil's in the details as to how these are established ... I'm sensitive to the legislature just coming in big footing and trying to impose a particular model on a community," Allen said in July.

"Politicians shouldn't be drawing their own lines," he also said in 2023.

"I think that the State Redistricting Commission has been a good model in demonstrating that a process can work."

Speaking in 2023 during committee consideration of an ultimately-vetoed bill to create a format for county redistricting commissions, state Sen. Scott Wiener said "everyone should have to have an independent redistricting commission."

"I agree that the commissioners should not be appointed by elected officials, which affects my city," said the San Francisco lawmaker who recently filed to run for Rep. Nancy Pelosi's seat when she vacates it. 

Assemb. Avelino Valencia, D-Culver City, added in 2023 that "independent citizen redistricting commissions help with fairness in the redistricting process and prevent the manipulation of district boundaries for political gain by elected officials. 

Valencia said the commission increases transparency and prioritizes local input.

Newsom's effort, which he announced at a press conference following an all-caps social media dig at President Donald Trump, would redistrict new maps without the Citizens' Redistricting Commission's input for every election through the 2030 census if voters so approve in November.

State Sen. Roger Niello, R-Fair Oaks, said he at least stalled the process somewhat on Monday by indicating in a letter to the Senate's secretary that he would withhold approval of unanimous consent requests for Tuesday's legislative session.

"The majority party drafted new congressional districts behind closed doors with D.C.-based political operatives to undermine the work of California's citizen-led commission in charge of redistricting," Niello said in a statement.

"Politicians shouldn't choose their voters."