Supporters of Proposition 50, passed by California Democrats on the state's congressional redistricting ballot to help the party take power in the U.S. House of Representatives, have raised more than four times what rivals have raised in recent weeks, according to campaign finance reports filed in the state by the three main committees campaigning on the measure.
Gov. Gavin Newsom's committee supporting the redistricting measure raised $36.8 million between Sept. 21 and Oct. 18, bringing the total to $114.3 million, according to a report filed with the Secretary of State's office Thursday and which was not available until Monday. The bank had $37.1 million available to spend before the Nov. 4 special election.
“We have met our budget goals and raised the amount needed to pass Proposition 50,” Newsom wrote to supporters on Monday. “You can stop donating.”
The two main opposition groups raised a total of $8.4 million over the 28-day fundraising period, bringing their total to $43.7 million. At the final stage of the campaign they had $2.3 million in cash on hand.
“As Gavin Newsom likes to say, we don't run 90-yard dashes here. We've seen a groundswell of support from Californians who understand what's at stake if we allow [President] Trump stole two more years of unchecked power,” said Hannah Milgrom, a spokeswoman for the main campaign of Proposition 50 supporters. “But we’re not taking anything for granted and we’re not taking our foot off the gas. If we want to hold this dangerous and reckless president accountable, we must pass Proposition 50.”
Newsom and other California Democrats decided to ask voters redraw congressional state boundarieswhich are now determined by a voter-approved independent commission in mid-decade redistricting after Trump urged GOP-led states to redraw their districts to ensure Republicans retained control of Congress in next year's midterm elections.
The balance of power in the narrowly divided House of Representatives will determine whether Trump can continue to pursue his agenda during his final two years in office, or whether he finds himself at the center of investigations and possibly impeachment efforts.
Major donors supporting Proposition 50 include billionaire financier George Soros; the House Majority PAC, the campaign arm of congressional Democrats; And trade unions.
Among Proposition 50's most vocal opponents are longtime GOP donor Charles Munger Jr., the son of billionaire Warren Buffett's investment partner; and the Congressional Leadership Fund, the policy arm of House Republicans.
“While we are overspending, we continue to educate Californians about the dangers of pausing California's gold standard redistricting process,” said Amy Thoma, a spokeswoman for the Munger-funded committee. “With only ten days left, we encourage all voters to have their say and vote.”
Ellie Hockenbury, an adviser to the committee that received $5 million from the Congressional Leadership Fund, said the organization intends to continue raising money to block Newsom's redistricting efforts in the days leading up to the election.
“His costly power grab will silence millions of Californians and deny them fair representation in Congress, so grassroots opposition is growing,” Hockenbury said. “Ultimately, our data-driven campaign strategically targets key voters with our message to ensure every resource helps us defeat Proposition 50.”
There are several other committees not affiliated with these main campaign groups that receive funding. They include a fund created by billionaire hedge fund founder Tom Steyer, who donated $12 million, and the California Republican Party, which received $8 million from the Congressional Leadership Fund.
These reports came just over a week before the November 4 special election. More than 4 million mail ballots — 18% of ballots sent to California's 23 million voters — had been returned as of Friday, according to a vote tracking system maintained 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 the ballots received.
The turnout numbers are alarming for Republican leaders.
“If Republicans don't come out and vote now, we will lose Proposition 50 and Gavin Newsom will control our county lines until 2032,” Orange County GOP Chairman Will O'Neill wrote to party members Friday, urging them to vote this past weekend and sharing the location of early voting centers in the county.
Assemblyman Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego) has been more outspoken on social media.
“Right now we are losing the fight against Proposition 50 in California, but turnout is LOW,” he wrote on social media site X on Friday. “If every Republican voter gets off their butt, returns their ballot and votes NO, we WILL win. THIS. THIS. JUST”.
There are more than 18.9 million ballots in circulation, but not all of them will be completed. Early voting centers opened Saturday in 29 California counties.
“Think of Election Day as the last day of voting, not the only day. As we always do, California is giving voters more days and more opportunities to participate,” Secretary of State Shirley Weber said in a statement. “Don't delay! Vote today!”
The US Department of Justice announced on Friday that it plans monitoring of polling stations in Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties at the request of the state Republican Party.
“Transparency at the polls means faith in the election process, and the Department of Justice is committed to maintaining the highest standards of election integrity,” Atty. General Pam Bondi said. “We will commit the resources necessary to ensure the American people have the fair, free and transparent elections they deserve.”
Newsom, in a post on X on Friday, said the Trump administration is sending election observers to polling places in California as part of the campaign. broader vote suppression effortsespecially among Californians of color ahead of next year's midterm elections.
“This is about voter intimidation. This is about voter suppression,” Newsom said, predicting that masked border agents will likely be present at California polling places during the Nov. 4 election. “I hope that people understand that this is a bridge that they are trying to build for the entire country in the elections next November. They do not believe in fair and free elections. Our republic, our democracy is at stake.”
