Arnold Schwarzenegger calls to ‘defeat Prop. 50’ while at Chapman University
Photo by Easton Clark, Photo Editor
Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke to a packed house at Chapman University two weeks ago, offering a blend of humor and political insight.
Schwarzenegger’s CV goes far beyond his time as governor, whether it be as a world-renowned bodybuilder with seven Mr. Olympia titles to his name or as an accomplished icon of the screen known for his roles in “The Terminator,” “Predator,” and “Total Recall.” Among the topics of the discussion, Schwarzenegger issued a warning about Proposition 50, the congressional redistricting initiative on the state’s recent special election ballot, which passed last Tuesday.
The measure, promoted by Gov. Gavin Newsom and prominent Democrats, will redefine California’s congressional districts to potentially grant Democrats five additional seats.
“They’re trying to tell the people they have to out-cheat the Republicans in order to fight fire with fire, to preserve democracy in America,” Schwarzenegger said. “But in the meantime, they’re destroying and tearing up the Constitution in California.”
The California Citizens Redistricting Commission, created in 2008 when voters approved a measure to take redistricting out of partisan hands, was designed to keep politics out of map-making. Prop. 50, Schwarzenegger commented, would suspend this independent oversight, undermining a system that was meant to protect fair representation.
“I think America is going through a very difficult time,” Schwarzenegger said to moderator and dean of Chapman’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, Stephen Galloway. “Politicians think first about their parties, then they think about the people.”
Schwarzenegger encouraged students to vote in the special election, emphasizing that civic engagement matters more than party loyalty.
“I’m not going to tell you how you should vote,” he said. “Just go out and vote. Let your voice be heard. It’s that simple.”
Reflecting on his own political journey, Schwarzenegger described a pragmatic approach to governance, one that should transcend ideological boundaries. He spoke of the struggles that hindered him in Austria under a communist socialist regime, and how this upbringing informed his Republican leanings, both as the governor of California and now as a citizen.
“When I came to America, I studied Milton Friedman and became a fan of his ideas,” he said.
Beyond politics, Schwarzenegger shared stories from his extraordinary life, most notably, his determination to make his first million dollars initially from real estate, and eventually arriving as the fruits of his film career. He emphasized the need for young people to invest wisely to secure a future.
“It’s amazing what you can achieve when you have faith in your vision,” Schwarzenegger said.
To say the least, Schwarzenegger inspired the audience to wholeheartedly embrace their goals and pursue them with determination. A dream can become reality if you work hard enough. As he said: “I saw myself in America, on stage, winning, making money, being successful. And I went after it. No one can stop you when you believe in your vision.”