Editor’s note: The following was sent recently to the Times and other local media organizations for publication.
By JESSE PEREZ
As someone who’s been a citizen of Merced County for all my life and involved in the political scene of this county, I feel the need to put our region first before my party. That’s why I’m actively warning folks about Proposition 50, it’s a misguided way to fight Trump.
Merced County is currently in the 13th Congressional District and represented by Adam Gray. He was elected in 2024 in a close race with 187 votes between him and incumbent John Duarte. While Democratic analysts claim that these new maps create more safe seats, I don’t see it. You are creating more purple districts with the hope that every single Democrat in these new districts turn out or even vote for the Democrat in the race. It’s like these people who were hired to draw up these maps were just shooting for a Democratic registration advantage regardless of how big it is. Using Presidential Election data for congressional districts is not a good idea, since both elections are vastly different.
One of the groups that sets out to lose the most is Latinos, with our district losing almost 10% of Latinos. This is a common theme in the new Central Valley districts. I understand that Latinos in the Central Valley have shifted more Republican in 2024, but why should we be punished for the mistakes the Democratic Party caused. This paints a troubling picture of the Democratic Party, with the national and statewide parties ignoring the Central Valley while the Republican Party gaining traction here.
We cannot take our communities for granted, especially when it’s for a short term gain that isn’t even guaranteed. Adam Gray, Josh Harder and Jim Costa will have to explain to the voters why our party created these new districts. Not to mention how these districts are drawn up. Adam Gray has a deeper connection to Merced County and not places like Stockton. These voters will have a stronger loyalty to Josh Harder than Adam Gray, which Gray only has a year to gain the trust of these voters. I see the pathway for the Republican Party here in the Central Valley, with three potential pickups. I don’t think that Merced College or UC Merced should be represented by a Republican given the direction of the Trump administration regarding universities. It’s as if the Democratic Party wants these seats to flip Republican so they can completely ignore us, but that’s just me.
I created a table to show the changes in demographics in all the Central Valley congressional districts, including the 2024 congressional election results. (See graphic on this page).
The current California Citizens Redistricting Committee has been a great example of true representation, yet the Democratic Party wants to ditch it. Proposition 50 supporters claim it’s temporary but you’re still removing it. Even with the old maps, I could see the potential for Democratic gains, especially given the unpopularity of the current administration.
We are throwing away our chances to take back the House because of Newsom’s presidential ambitions, he doesn’t care about defending democracy or the Central Valley. You saw it in 2022, with Newsom’s poor performance in the Central Valley, which I believe caused Duarte to defeat Gray in 2022.
I want to end this with saying that I oppose the Republican efforts in Texas, but gerrymandering regardless of party is wrong and we must rid ourselves with partisan double standards. The intentions might be good for Democrats here, but it comes at a cost.
You also might be wondering why I’m going public with my opposition? It’s because I’m tired of the narrative that only Republicans are opposing this proposition. I want to provide a progressive and local argument against Proposition 50.
If you want to create safe Democratic seats in the Central Valley, maybe start with improving your messaging with Latinos instead of supporting a proposition that disenfranchises us. Being the youngest member of our county’s Democratic Central Committee, also a member of the Progressive Caucus and the International Relations Caucus within the California Democratic Party, I see the vision of what I want the Democratic Party to be on a statewide and county level.
We are better than to engage in the same tactics the Republican Party employs, even if Gavin Newsom is banging the drum. This opposition will hopefully bring more awareness to Merced County and the rest of the Central Valley on a political level. I’m doing it for our community, party, and the future of democracy. Merced County will have to make a stand this November.
Jesse Perez is a member of the Merced County Democratic Central Committee – District 5, and a student at Merced College, studying General Agriculture.