Texas’s redistricting battle has become a national issue.
One candidate hoping to replace Gavin Newsom as Governor of California is running ads here.
Longtime Democrat donor Stephen Cloobeck is paying for ads aimed at Texas voters.
Cloobeck is a wealthy California businessman who founded Diamond Resorts and is now running for California governor.
He told News 4 San Antonio he wants to alert voters in his state and Texas of what’s at stake in the redistricting.
Cloobeck, who has not held elected office before, is running now that Gavin Newsom is termed out.
“You’re running for governor in California, why run ads in Texas?” asked News 4 I-Team reporter Jaie Avila.
“We’re just trying to raise awareness to the voters of Texas that this is their democracy too,” Cloobeck said.
The ads that started running today on YouTube and other social media sites accuse President Trump of cheating by urging Texas leaders to redraw congressional districts.
“Democrats have done their share of redistricting and even gerrymandering in the past, is it hypocritical to object when Republicans want to do it?” Avila asked.
“We are all just servants if we’re in office to lead what the customers, what the voters, the customers want. Give them equal or greater value, give them representation as they wish,” Cloobeck said.
Bexar County Republicans don’t think the ads will sway many Texans.
“What he should be worried about is the mess in California. You have massive amounts of people leaving the state in record numbers,” said Kyle Sinclair, Bexar County GOP Vice-Chair.
Cloobeck’s ad campaign comes as California Democrats are trying to get other blue states to get involved in the redistricting fight.