Overview
- California voters approved Proposition 50 by roughly 64% to 36%, ending the use of the independent redistricting commission for U.S. House lines and returning mapmaking power to the Democratic legislature for 2026 through 2030.
- Independent analyses and campaign messaging project the new map could create about five additional Democratic‑leaning House seats in California starting in 2026.
- At a Houston rally, Newsom framed the measure as a direct response to Texas Republicans’ mid‑decade redraw pushed by President Donald Trump and told supporters that retaking the House in 2026 is “the whole thing.”
- The Prop 50 effort reported about $100 million raised from roughly 1.2 million contributions, with well over 100,000 donations coming from outside California.
- The special election’s cost was pegged near $300 million, and critics labeled the change partisan gerrymandering even as Democratic leaders touted fresh momentum heading into the midterms.