Overview
- Voters backed Prop 50 by roughly a 2-to-1 margin, replacing the citizen redistricting commission with legislature-drawn congressional maps for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections.
- Analysts expect the plan to add about five Democratic seats in the U.S. House, raising risks for Republicans Doug LaMalfa, Kevin Kiley, Ken Calvert, Darrell Issa and David Valadao.
- The California GOP has sued to stop the maps, alleging Voting Rights Act and Equal Protection violations and citing Thornburg v. Gingles in early arguments.
- Activists have launched a separate ballot initiative that would limit Prop 50’s effect to only the 2026 cycle.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom plans a trip to Houston to salute Texas Democrats who resisted a redraw there, as President Trump and his administration accused California of election fraud involving mail ballots.