California Says Yes to Proposition 50

By Cypress Reid and Mika Katznelson, Print Opinion Section Editor and Online Editor

   Californians closed voting on Nov. 4 and passed Proposition 50, a plan to redistrict California using legislatively drawn congressional district maps, in response to Texas passing a similar redistricting measure.

   The proposition passed with around 64 percent of the votes and won in 39 out of the 58 counties. The legislatively created maps will be used until the next census in 2030, where districting will shift back to the independent redistricting committee.

   The redrawing of county lines is anticipated to change the current distribution of House of Representatives seats, with five Republican held seats expected to flip to Democratic.

   President Trump has since argued that the proposition was unconstitutional and illegitimate, as the vast majority of ballots were cast by mail. The California GOP additionally sued the California Secretary of State. They argued the maps were drawn based on race and favor Latino and Hispanic voters, which violates the Voting Rights Act, along with the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments.

   California and Texas are not the only states to redistrict and add more congressional seats. Missouri, Ohio, and North Carolina have all undergone redistricting to benefit Republicans, and Utah is dependent on court approval to add a seat for Democrats. At least eight other states are considering redistricting. 

   After the passage of Proposition 50, Governor Gavin Newsom urged other largely democratic states to pass similar measures.