California Passes Prop 50 To Redraw State’s Congressional Maps

California has passed Proposition 50, a redistricting plan that could help the Democratic party take back as many as five seats in Congress for the 2026 midterm elections.

Residents voted "yes" on the plan to redraw the state's congressional district lines which would favor Democrats.

Prop 50 was designed to offset a move by Texas that created more Republican seats in the House of Representatives in next year's election.

Voters passing the ballot measure also delivered a victory for Gov. Gavin Newsom—who is considering a presidential run—in response to President Donald Trump's policies, including his crackdown on immigration, tariffs, cuts to healthcare, and sending the National Guard to Los Angeles.

"We're proud of the work that the people of the state of California did tonight to send a powerful message to an historic president, Donald Trump is an historic president," Newson said in a speech Tuesday night at Democratic Party Headquarters in Sacramento. "He is the most historically unpopular president in modern history."

But this morning, Republicans were quick to file a lawsuit to try and stop California from redrawing its district maps.

Republicans filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California saying "the new maps are unconstitutional because they improperly use voters’ race as a factor in drawing districts and asks the court to block them from taking effect," according to The New York Times.

It may be an uphill battle as Republican state legislators in California were unsuccessful in other court petitions to try and stop Prop 50 from being brought to a special election.

In August, the California Supreme Court denied an emergency petition by lawmakers that would've blocked the special election. The petition accused Democrats of skipping the required 30-day public review period for new legislation, according to state Republicans.

Then, as recently as Monday, a Texas judge threw out a lawsuit filed by California Rep. Darrel Issa and Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson. They called the Prop 50 ballot measure unconstitutional and wanted the judge to block using the new maps if voters approved the measure.

The ballot measure came about in August to help counter President Trump's attempt to pressure Republican-led states to keep Democrats from gaining control of the U.S. House of Representatives. If Democrats take back control of the House, that puts a roadblock to Trump's agenda and opens up his administration to any potential investigations.

It was one of the most expensive ballot measure in state history. Supporters gave more than $120 million to Newsom's committee supporting the measure, according to CalMatters. Opponents raised about $44 million and outside groups spent $27 million.

"After poking the bear, this bear roared with an unprecedented turnout in a special election with an extraordinary result," Newsom said.

After the ballot measure officially passed, Trump wrote on his Truth Social site, "...AND SO IT BEGINS!"

Prop 50 opponents

Not everyone was in favor of Prop 50. From the wealthy to the working class, residents had their opinions.

One of the biggest opponents to the ballot measure was Charles Munger Jr.

The Berkshire Hathaway heir poured millions of dollars to fight Newsom's redistricting plan, saying the plan will "gerrymander" the state in favor of Democrats.

In an op-ed for The New York Times, Munger wrote in September, "Gerrymanders are a cancer, and mid-decade gerrymanders are a metastasis."

Munger, 68, released a statement after Prop 50's passage saying, "For what looms for the people of California, I am saddened by the passage of Proposition 50. 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."

Arnold Schwarzenegger, actor and former California governor, said during the Prop 50 push, "They are trying to fight for democracy by getting rid of the democratic principles of California. It is insane to let that happen."

Other opponents included people who live rural parts of the state and fear that redistricting would combine cities and opposing views. Fredrich Bahrke, a former Naval officer who lives in rural Lakeside, CA, told CalMatters, "It’s going to put us in a district with people with very different views in our area."