City of San Jose

Since day one, Californians have been on the frontlines of protecting our communities under attack by the Trump administration and his MAGA Republicans. With Proposition 50, California voters have another opportunity to fight back against the Republican cuts to healthcare, the rising cost of living under tariffs and corporate price gouging, and the cruel abductions and forced removals of immigrants. 

Proposition 50 isn’t a permanent change to California’s elections, but rather a direct response to a Republican power grab orchestrated by President Trump and state leaders in Texas, who redrew Congressional district lines to gain five more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Proposition 50 proposes new lines for many of California’s 52 congressional districts, which would negate the five Republican seats drawn by Texas. If passed, the new California congressional districts would be in effect solely for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections, after which redistricting would be returned to the state’s independent redistricting commission following the 2030 census. Under the proposed lines, Democrats could gain up to 5 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. With a majority in the House, Democrats can fight back against Trump and Republicans’ MAGA agenda. 

While the new Texas districts minimize the power of voters – especially voters of color and people who voted for Kamala Harris in 2024 – and were passed without any public input, the proposed California map was drawn with public input, and it is ultimately up to voters to approve.

Why voting YES on Proposition 50 matters

• Trump has been able to achieve much of his agenda due to the current regime’s narrow majority control of the U.S. House of Representatives (219-213, with a newly elected Arizona Democratic representative waiting to be seated, and two vacancies) and Senate (51-49), which has refused to put checks on his power.
• In July, Trump used those narrow Republican House and Senate majorities to pass a federal budget that will cut healthcare coverage for 15 million people, cut renter support by more than half, raise the cost of student loans for nearly 43 million student loan borrowers, defund Planned Parenthood, and much more – all to pay for tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy and triple the budget for inhumane attacks on immigrant communities. All of this was done against the will of the people, 2 in 3 of whom opposed the new budget, which is why Trump and MAGA Republicans are trying to rig the midterm elections in favor of Republicans. In contrast, House and Senate Democrats have authored bills to expand Medicare to provide health insurance to all Americans, fund more affordable housing, make public colleges and universities tuition-free, protect abortion nationwide, and provide a pathway to citizenship – none of which will pass with Republican majorities.
• California is currently represented by 43 Democrats and 9 Republicans in the House, and 2 Democrats in the Senate. All nine Republicans voted in favor of the federal budget, and all Democrats voted against it. If voters pass Proposition 50, California House representation could shift to 48 Democrats and 4 Republicans, and determine majority control of the House.
• This special election is ultimately about Californians defending our democracy –  leading the nation as Trump and Republican leaders try to erase the voting power of Black and Latino voters in Texas and other states. In red states, mid-decade redistricting is being led by political legislators ignoring the will of the people, but in California, voters will have the final say on the new map and on how we want our leaders to stand up for our state and nation. And then we can fight back against the billionaire-backed raids on our communities, our social safety net, and our wallets.
   

Support for Proposition 50:

• Yes on Prop 50 is supported by California and national Democrats and progressives, including former President Barack Obama, former Attorney General and chair of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee Eric Holder, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
• California groups and leaders, like Courage California, SEIU California, the California Labor Federation, California Teachers Association, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, California Working Families Party, and organizations that worked on the Census and redistricting in 2020, like Inland Empire United and Communities for a New California Action Fund.
• Supporters back Proposition with the understanding that it is a temporary solution and that redistricting will return to the independent redistricting commission in 2030.
• The Stop Election Rigging Response Act ballot measure committee of Governor Newsom in support of Prop 50 has raised over $95 million, with significant contributions from Governor Newsom’s campaign committees, Fund for Policy Reform, House Majority PAC, GiveGreen United Action, the Democratic Governors Association, labor unions including California Teachers Association, SEIU California, and California Labor Federation, several business and tech executives, and other individual donors. 
   

Opposition to Proposition 50: 

• No on Prop 50 is supported by California and national Republicans, some of whom helped establish the independent redistricting commission, like former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Republican megadonor Charles Munger Jr.
• Several state Republicans and Democrats have expressed opposition or doubt about Proposition 50, as well as concerns about how mid-decade redistricting would play out across the nation and in the long term.
• Munger – who has supported Republican candidates, anti-abortion centers, and anti-LBGTQ+ groups – established the Protect Voters First committee and is the primary funder of the committee, having committed $30 million to oppose Prop 50.
• There are several other committees opposing Prop 50 that have raised over $45 million, including ones led and funded by former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, former California Republican Party Chair Jessica Millan Patterson, the Congressional Leadership Fund, and several California Republican members of Congress whose districts would be more competitive if Prop 50 passes. 
   

Disinformation about Proposition 50:

• Mid-decade redistricting in California is in the hands of the voters and is NOT a threat to our democracy and fair elections – the real threat is an authoritarian president attacking our cities and communities, dismantling the programs and services we all depend on, and instructing Republican state leaders to rig their elections without any voter input.
• Proposition 50 does NOT dismantle or attack the independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission. The ballot measure gives voters the choice on whether or not to adopt a new, temporary congressional map until the commission resumes redistricting on its usual timeline after the 2030 census.
• The proposed maps have NOT been secret. The state legislature published interactive maps, held public hearings, and welcomed public comment on the maps before they voted to put Proposition 50 on the ballot in August. Voters will have the final say on our congressional map. None of the Republican-led states considering mid-decade redistricting has given its voters any opportunity to weigh in on new maps.
• Misleading No on Prop 50 flyers have included quotes from organizations that support election reforms and voter rights, like California Common Cause and the League of Women Voters California. Neither organization opposes Proposition 50. In fact, Common Cause has judged that California’s redistricting ballot measure meets its fairness criteria, while Texas’s does not.
   

Key Special Election Dates

The last day to register to vote: October 20, 2025

For eligible citizens who miss the voter registration deadline, Same Day Voter Registration is available at county elections offices, polling places, or vote centers.

All California registered voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot from your county elections office starting October 6, 2025.

Return your vote-by-mail ballots by mail, at a drop-off location, or your county elections office.

• Ballot drop-off locations open on October 7
• Vote centers open for early in-person voting in Voter’s Choice Act counties beginning October 25
• Mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by November 12 to be counted. Get your ballot in early to make sure it gets counted!
   

Go to Your Power is Your Vote to register to vote, check your voter registration, and sign up for election reminders. Sign up to track your ballot directly through the California Secretary of State’s BallotTrax.  

>> Make sure you are registered to vote, and return your Yes on Proposition 50 ballot by November 4, 2025! <<