President Trump on Sunday urged California voters not to mail in ballots or vote early in California's redistricting elections, the direct opposite of the message from state GOP leaders.
Repeating his false claim that former President Biden beat him in 2020 because the election was rigged, Trump said November's special election over redistricting in California would be rigged, as would the 2026 midterm elections to determine control of Congress.
“No mail-in or 'early' voting, yes for voter ID! Look how unfair voting to support California is! Millions of ballots being 'mailed in'” Trump wrote in Truth Social. “GET UP SMART REPUBLICANS BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!!!”
Proposition 50 ballot measure A proposal by Gov. Gavin Newsom and other California Democrats to redraw the state's congressional districts to boost their party's position in the U.S. House of Representatives is on the Nov. 4 ballot.
The rare mid-decade redistricting effort was a response to Trump's call for GOP-led states, initially Texas, to increase the number of Republicans in the House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections to allow him to continue his agenda in his final two years in the White House.
Newsom responded to Trump on X: “The ravings of an old man who knows he will lose.”
Trump has not spoken on the merits of Proposition 50, while prominent Democrats who support him have said the following: including former President Obama.
More than 4 million mail-in ballots — 18% of ballots sent to California's 23 million voters had been returned as of Friday, according to a vote tracking system run by Democratic redistricting expert Paul Mitchell, who drew the proposed maps on the ballot. Democrats continue to lead Republicans in the number of ballots returned, 51% to 28%. Voters registered with no party preference or with other political parties returned 21% of ballots.
Early voting centers also opened Saturday in 29 counties.
The turnout numbers had been troubling Republican leaders even before Trump's address.
“It's simple. Republicans need to stop complaining and vote. We ask and ask and ask, but turnout is still lagging.” San Diego Republican Party published on X. “To win, GOP turnout has to be substantially above average. It's very doable, but it won't just happen. Work at it.”
Republicans have historically voted early, while Democrats have been more likely to vote on Election Day. Trump has upended that dynamic, causing dissonance with GOP leaders across the country who have recognized the value of early voting. And this completely contradicts the message of Proposition 50 opponents.
Jessica Millan Patterson, former chair of the state Republican Party and leader of the No on Proposition 50 – Stop the Power Grab in Sacramento committee, has long been an advocate of urging Republican voters to vote early and conveniently.
“Sacramento politicians rushed this costly election for partisan gain, and mistakes were made,” she said Sunday night. “If Californians want change from the failed one-party rule in our state, they will start by voting no on Proposition 50.”
