Californians voted on 50 proposals in the redistricting battle.
Redistricting and voting rights are in the spotlight as Californians vote on Proposition 50.
California voters on November 4th passed Proposition 50, a constitutional amendment that would allow the state to redraw the state’s congressional district lines, resulting in a landslide victory for Democrats.
The bill, sponsored by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, would allow California’s Democratic state legislators to temporarily redraw the state’s U.S. House districts, increasing the party’s chances of winning more seats in Congress.
After the 2030 U.S. Census, the state will return to using bipartisan commissions to draw congressional district lines.
Passage of Proposition 50 would effectively nullify five new Republican-leaning congressional districts that Texas created earlier this year at the request of President Donald Trump. Here’s what you need to know:
Did Proposition 50 pass?
Yes, Proposition 50 passed in California. The bill would allow the state’s congressional districts to be temporarily redrawn ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Democrats hope the amendment will offset Republican-led redistricting in Texas. California and Texas have the largest Democratic and Republican delegations, respectively, and have a greater weight in which state controls the U.S. House of Representatives. Republicans currently hold a slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Redistricting typically occurs at the beginning of every decade, but some states prohibit mid-decade changes.
“What a night for Democrats,” Newsom said after the polls closed on Nov. 4.
President Trump condemned the results in a post on Truth Social.
“California’s unconstitutional redistricting vote is a colossal fraud in that the entire process, especially the vote itself, is rigged,” he wrote.
Prop 50 election results
More than 8 million Californians voted for Proposition 50, according to data from the California Secretary of State.
More than 63% of voters chose to pass Proposition 50, while about 36% voted against it.
Melina Khan is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. Contact her at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
Contributors: Sarah D. Wire, Ramon Padilla, Ignacio Calderon, america today
