Proposition passed adding to the redistricting struggle 

California Proposition 50 passed on Tuesday, allowing the legislature to redistrict in the middle of the decade. The proposition allows lawmakers to draw new partisan maps until 2031, following the census

Gov. Gavin Newsom supported the proposition, selling it as a response to Texas’s redistricting effort.

“Tonight, after poking the bear, this bear roared,” Newsom said. “With an unprecedented turnout in a special election with an extraordinary result.”

California Democrats were pleased with the result, positioning it as a means to an end, despite the potential for leaving citizens in those districts improperly represented. 

The California GOP was disappointed by the proposition’s support and thought it was a mistake by the one-party-controlled California.

“They campaigned on a whole lot of lies and drove emotionally charged arguments to get people to vote against their best interests,” said California state assemblyman David Tangipa.

California Republicans have since sued. They claim the proposition prefers one race over the others and violates the 14th and 15th amendments. They believe that it favors Latino voters.

“These maps – they are completely diminishing the voices of other groups to benefit other groups. They have weaponized this entire process,” Tangipa said

Earlier this year, Texas Republicans’ redistricting measure was signed into law. This allowed the legislature to adopt new maps that created five new Republican districts. This comes ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. In response, California proposed its own redistricting that would make five Democratic districts.

Redistricting usually happens after the census each decade; the legislature in power in each state decides how to create the districts. A mid-decade map change is unprecedented.

Other states reacted to this district struggle including Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio and Utah, Florida, Virginia, Kansas, Nebraska, Indiana and Illinois are all in talks over the matter.

3rd District Judge Dianna Gibson will rule on Nov. 10 whether or not the Utah legislature followed her parameters for the new map.

After the California Democrats’ win, Newsom felt this had to be done to take a stand against President Trump’s efforts ahead of the upcoming midterms.

“No crowns, no thrones, no kings. That’s what this victory represents. It’s a victory for the state of California and the United States of America.” Newsom said.

This redistricting struggle has escalated and will influence the outcome in 2026.