California voters pass Prop. 50, Democratic redistricting backlash against Trump
Californians struck back Tuesday against President Donald Trump’s push to keep the House of Representatives in the hands of Republicans by approving a ballot proposition that would redraw the state’s congressional map.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic state lawmakers pitched the measure as a response to Texas Republicans, who earlier this year changed their congressional map to shift as many as five seats to their party after pressure from Trump.
More than 64% of ballots were in favor of Proposition 50 as of 10:50 p.m., according to the California Secretary of State’s Office. Results were mixed in area counties: It was winning in Sacramento and Yolo counties but losing in El Dorado, Placer, Sutter and Yuba.
Newsom and state lawmakers leaned on an anti-Trump message to build support for the Democratic-led gerrymander. During a speech at the state Democratic Party headquarters in Sacramento, Newsom continued that approach, saying voters had sent a “powerful message” to the president.
“It’s a victory for the people of the state of California and the United States of America,” the governor said to news reporters, as well as campaign and party officials.
It also could be a victory for Newsom, who has cultivated a national profile and acknowledged he is considering a future run for president.
During his speech, the governor criticized Trump’s use of the National Guard in cities across the country, spoke of the country’s Founding Fathers and called on other Democratic-led states to “meet this moment head on” before of the 2026 midterm elections.
“We could de facto end Donald Trump’s presidency as we know it,” he said. “It is all on the line.”
Unlike in Texas, supporters of Prop. 50 needed voter approval for the gerrymander because the California Constitution currently gives political line-drawing power to an independent commission. The new measure will replace the state’s current congressional districts until after the 2030 election, when the commission will draw a new map after another decennial census.
Democrats currently hold 43 of the state’s 52 seats in the House of Representatives.
Critics of Prop. 50 had hoped that voters would want to preserve the commission’s work and would see the measure as a political power grab by Newsom and other Democrats. But neither argument persuaded enough voters for it to be defeated.
“I am saddened by the passage of Proposition 50,” Charles Munger Jr., who contributed more than $32 million to try and defeat the measure, said in a statement. “But I am content in this, at least: that our campaign educated the people of California so they could make an informed, if in my view unwise, decision about such a technical but critical issue as redistricting reform, a decision forced to be made over such a very short time.”
Jessica Millan Patterson, who chaired a campaign committee opposing the measure, criticized the governor after the win saying “his national ambitions ahead of protecting California’s voter-approved independent redistricting commission and the millions of voices now silenced.”
Tuesday night’s result was not a major surprise. Public opinion polls showed the measure was expected to pass. And the ‘No’ side was far outraised and outspent by supporters.
The political musical chairs started shortly after polls closed. Democratic Rep. Ami Bera announced he would challenge Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley in a Sacramento-area district that will have new boundaries.
And former state lawmaker, Dr. Richard Pan, said Tuesday evening he will continue his congressional campaign, but no longer run against Kiley.
This story was originally published November 4, 2025 at 8:01 PM.
