Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, first proposed that California could gerrymander its own congressional district maps to favor Democrats in an effort to offset potential gains from Texas's gerrymandering.[5] The California Citizens Redistricting Commission is an independent bipartisan body that currently handles redistricting in the state. The commission was first established by 2008 California Proposition 11 and was then given the power to redraw congressional districts by 2010 California Proposition 20. Newsom proposed that a special election be called to temporarily pause the commission and return redistricting power to the California Legislature until the end of the decade. Because both Propositions 11 and 20 were voter-approved amendments to the state constitution, any such changes to the redistricting power would also require a voter-approved constitutional amendment.[6] On August 11, 2025, he sent a letter to Donald Trump, stating that California would pause any mid-decade redistricting effort if other states called off their efforts.[7] Two days later, Newsom announced that the deadline had passed and he would move forward with his own redistricting effort.[8]
The proposed map is expected to target five seats currently held by Republicans: Ken Calvert (CA-41), Darrell Issa (CA-49), Kevin Kiley (CA-03), David Valadao (CA-22), and Doug LaMalfa (CA-01).[9] It was drawn by Democratic redistricting expert Paul Mitchell,[10] and formally submitted to the legislature by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.[11] Proponents of the maps stated that the map was more compact than the previous map, with fewer city and county splits and with the majority of districts changed by less than 10%,[11] although there are certain cities, notably Lodi, which are split where they were not before.[12]
Legislative history
There were three actions necessary to place Proposition 50 on the ballot - Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8 which is the amendment submitted for approval to California voters to redistrict the state, Senate Bill 280 to call the election, assign the proposition number, and set limitations for ballot titles for incumbent congressional representatives for the June 2026 election should the measure pass, and Assembly Bill 604 to assign each census block in a county to a congressional district.[13]
SB 280 was introduced on August 18,[a] and a legislative vote occurred in both chambers on August 21. A two-thirds supermajority was needed to place the measure on the ballot.[16][17] The California State Assembly surpassed the 54 votes needed for a supermajority by passing the bill on a 57 to 20 vote.[b] Hours later, the California State Senate surpassed the 27 votes needed for a supermajority by approving the bill on a 30 to 8 vote.[19][c] Governor Newsom signed it into law later in the day.[20] ACA 8 also passed by that same vote tally, although as a legislative constitutional amendment it did not need the governor's signature.[21] AB 604, which set the boundaries of the districts, passed 56 to 20 in the Assembly and 30 to 9 in the Senate.[22][d][e]
Litigation
Four California state legislators (State Senators Tony Strickland and Suzette Martinez Valladares and Assembly members Tri Ta and Kate Sanchez) filed a lawsuit with the California Supreme Court asking the court to block the vote in the State Legislature on the ground that state law required a 30 day waiting period before voting on the bill. On August 20, the California Supreme Court rejected the motion by the four legislators, paving the way for a vote the following day.[25]
On August 25, after the bill became law, the same four legislators sued again in the state Supreme Court. In their emergency lawsuit, the legislators claim that the proposition is a violation of citizens' rights to have the California redistricting commission draw congressional districts. The California Republican Party announced that it was backing the plaintiffs, who were represented by a law firm founded by U.S. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon.[26] The California Supreme Court also rejected the second lawsuit.[27]
On August 25, the day that the four Republican state legislators filed their second lawsuit, Donald Trump announced that he will ask the United States Justice Department to sue in federal court to block Proposition 50. California's governor Gavin Newsom responded in a tweet, "BRING IT ON".[28]
Campaign
Support for the measure is expected to be highly partisan, with supporters of the measure likely being members of the Democratic Party, while those in opposition are expected to be members of the Republican Party.[29]
Support
The ballot measure was proposed by Governor Newsom, who has emerged as its most vocal champion.[30][1] Other prominent supporters include former President Barack Obama,[31] former Vice President Kamala Harris,[32] U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff,[33] and the California AFL-CIO.[34] Newsom, Padilla, and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi signed the ballot argument in favor.[35] Several Members of Congress whose districts would be redrawn if Proposition 50 is approved have also expressed their support for the measure, including Representatives Pete Aguilar and Zoe Lofgren.[36]
The liberal think tank, Center for American Progress, which is normally in favor of independent redistricting commissions, stated that redistricting commissions should be put on hold until the US Congress "establishes federal standards for redistricting that all states must abide by."[37]
Opposition
Two main committees were formed in oppostion to the proposition: One named "Stop Sacramento’s Power Grab", backed by Former Speaker of the HouseKevin McCarthy, and the other named "Protect Voters First", backed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, the state's most recent Republican to have served as governor and Charles Munger Jr., son of Charles Munger.[38] McCarthy announced that he plans on raising $100 million for his committee, with immediate past chair of the California Republican Party, Jessica Millan Patterson, tapped to lead McCarthy's committee.[39] Both Schwarzenegger and Munger played a significant role in bringing about the state's current redistricting commission, with Munger having spent spent $12 million on the propostion to create the commission.[40][41][42] Munger donated $10 millon to kick-off the Schwarzenegger-backed committee. Both committees were planning on distancing themselves from Donald Trump.[38]
Democratic State Assembly member Jasmeet Bains, who is running against incumbent Republican Congressman David Valadao in 2026, also came out in opposition to the proposal prior to its passage.[43]
Neutral
Common Cause issued a statement that it "will not pre-emptively oppose mid-decade redistricting in California."[44]
The League of Women Voters of California, a leading proponent of Proposition 20 in 2010, had initially issued a statement opposing the redistricting[45] but changed its position to neutral after the State Legislature voted to put Proposition 50 on the ballot.[46] The Charles Munger, Jr.-formed committee used quotes from the original opposition in mailers, without mentioning that the league had dropped its opposition.[47]
Impact
If approved by voters, new congressional maps would be enacted prior to the 2026 United States House of Representatives elections.[48] The new maps would last through 2030, after which the state commission would draw up a new map to adjust district lines after the decennial U.S. Census.
"Suppose a statewide ballot measure to change the way California Congressional District lines are drawn was put before voters in a special election later this year. The measure would ask voters to allow the state to temporarily replace the Congressional district lines drawn by the state's independent citizens commission after the last census in 2020 for use in next year's elections, if Texas goes forward with its own partisan mid-term redistricting plan. The measure would also return the authority to redraw California's Congressional district lines to the state's independent citizens commission for the next census in 2030. If you were voting today, would you vote YES or NO on this proposed ballot measure?"
Question phrasing not available, described in Axios as: "Proposition 50 allows new maps to be designed on a temporary basis, triggered by partisan action in other state such as Texas, and retains the independent redistricting commission".
"In both 2008 and 2010, California voters passed initiatives to give an Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission the power to draw the state's legislative and congressional districts, in order to reduce the influence of politicians. Governor Newsom has suggested returning congressional line drawing authority back to the Legislature, citing concerns that redistricting efforts in Republican states would give them a partisan advantage."
↑ A bill numbered SB-280 was introduced February 5, 2025. On August 18 the content of the original bill was removed and replaced with the bill as passed into law (with very minor modifications) on August 21.[14][15]
↑ In the State Assembly, all 57 votes for the bill were from Democrats. All Republicans, joined by one Democrat, Jasmeet Bains, voted against. Two Democrats, Dawn Addis and Alex Lee did not cast a vote[18]
↑ In the State Senate, two Republicans (Marie Alvarado-Gil and Kelly Seyarto) did not cast a vote. All other state senators voted along party line with Democrats voting for the bill, and Republicans voting against the bill.[18]
↑ Similar to SB-280, AB-604 was introduced February 13, 2025, and on August 18 the content of the original bill was removed and replaced with the bill as passed into law on August 21 with no additional modifications.[23][24]
↑ The differences between the roll-call votes for SB 280 and AB 604 were: in the Assembly Mia Bonta did not cast a vote for AB 604 but voted for SB 280, and in the Senate, Kelly Seyarto voted no on AB 604 and did not cast a vote on SB 280.
↑ Key: A – all adults RV – registered voters LV – likely voters V – unclear
↑ Phrased as "support returning congressional redistricting authority to state legislators"
↑ Phrased as "support keeping the independent redistricting commission"
Partisan clients
↑ Pollster has conducted surveys for Gavin Newsom.
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