1 month ago
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(NewsNation) — California voters said yes to Proposition 50, according to NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ.
A “yes” ballot connected the measurement would found a caller legislature representation for the adjacent 3 predetermination cycles, potentially flipping arsenic galore arsenic 5 U.S. House seats to Democratic control. A “no” ballot would support the existent territory maps successful place.
Proposition 50 comes amid a increasing nationalist combat implicit redistricting, arsenic some parties impeach the different of partisan gerrymandering. Republicans successful Texas recently pushed to redraw legislature districts mid-decade — an unusual move aimed astatine helping the GOP clasp power of the House successful 2026.
California’s Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom championed Proposition 50 arsenic California’s reply to Texas, a Democratic propulsion to blunt the GOP mid-cycle redistricting effort encouraged by President Donald Trump.
Democrats presently power 43 of California’s 52 U.S. House seats, and Proposition 50 could assistance them prime up 5 further seats.
A “yes” ballot would o.k. a caller U.S. House representation already passed by the state’s Democrat-controlled State Legislature, circumventing districts adopted by an autarkic citizens committee aft the 2020 census.
Supporters of the measurement saw it arsenic a accidental to bushed Republicans astatine their ain crippled — utilizing redistricting to antagonistic what they saw arsenic partisan gerrymandering.
Critics of Proposition 50 argued that it would dismantle safeguards designed to support elections fair, a powerfulness drawback that shifts redistricting power from citizens to politicians.
Both sides poured important wealth into the fight, raising much than $166 cardinal combined, according to a Ballotpedia breakdown of run finances. Supporters brought successful astir $122 million, portion opponents raised astir $44 million, making it the 4th astir costly ballot measurement successful California history.
Newsom was the nationalist look of the measure, but it received important fiscal backing from the state’s powerful unions.
Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger came retired against Proposition 50 and accused Republicans and Democrats of trying to “outcheat each other.”
Rick Hasen, a instrumentality prof astatine UCLA, called Proposition 50 “highly unusual” successful a recent article, but said immoderate ineligible situation nether authorities instrumentality would apt neglect due to the fact that if the measurement passed, it would amend the authorities constitution.
Still, Hasen noted, the recently drawn lines could look a national tribunal situation — akin to what’s already happening successful Texas.
