“This is my moment to stand up for what I believe in,” said Sarah Miller, a Bay Area nurse, after submitting her ballot.
“If we don’t act now, democracy itself is in jeopardy. The future is in our hands.”
Governor Gavin Newsom echoed that sentiment in the days leading up to the vote, framing the election as “California’s chance to protect democracy.”
Speaking at rallies and in interviews, he emphasized that the stakes extended beyond the state. “At the end of the day, this is about the future of our nation,” Newsom said at a Yes on Proposition 50 rally in Los Angeles on November 1.
The Democratic governor presented the measure as an opportunity for his party to regain momentum after a disappointing presidential race.
“A year from now, what this is really about is Democrats getting back on our toes — not on our heels — finding our confidence again,” he said, signaling both a strategic and symbolic victory if the proposition passed.
Earlier this year, in August, Newsom and state Democrats passed the End Election Rigging Act in response to Republican-led states like Texas moving forward with new congressional maps. At his rally, Newsom projected confidence that Proposition 50 would succeed, noting that the campaign had already surpassed fundraising goals and that donors could redirect future contributions elsewhere.
While Democrats argued the measure would counterbalance GOP redistricting efforts in other states, Republican leaders voiced strong opposition.
State Senator Tony Strickland warned that the proposition could backfire politically. “If Prop 50 passes, it becomes a national rallying cry,” Strickland told The Epoch Times on November 4. “I think it will backfire on Governor Newsom — the real winner tonight will be Donald Trump.”
Strickland also estimated that Republicans, who control numerous state legislatures nationwide, could gain 25 to 30 congressional seats through favorable redistricting.
He criticized the measure for potentially weakening rural representation, forcing some constituents to drive up to 300 miles to reach their congressional offices. Additionally, he accused Newsom of spending $125 million to “mislead California voters.”
Some residents voiced similar concerns about the measure temporarily overriding the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, which is intended to ensure nonpartisan map drawing. “We already have a system that’s supposed to represent everyone fairly,” said Jack Smith, a construction supervisor from Sacramento. “Why are they trying to work around the rules that are already in place?”
On November 4, following the election, President Donald Trump denounced the California results, calling the redistricting proposal unconstitutional and threatening legal action. “The so-called Redistricting Vote in California is a GIANT SCAM — the process and the vote itself are completely RIGGED,” he posted on Truth Social. “All ‘Mail-In’ ballots — where Republicans are completely shut out — are now under serious legal and criminal review. STAY TUNED!”
The debate over Proposition 50 highlighted the deep partisan divisions surrounding redistricting, voting procedures, and the balance of political power, drawing national attention to California even as residents cast their ballots.