In the first major blow to the Trump administration's power grab in red states across the country, California voters on Tuesday approved a proposal to redraw the state's congressional district lines. Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Democrats pushed the measure to help offset Trump's nationwide gerrymandering in red states.
The recently approved measure will change the percentage of Democrats and Republicans in ten California congressional districts, giving Democrats an advantage in Republican-led districts as well as in areas considered swing districts.
California has 52 congressional seats, nine of which are Republican and 43 are Democratic. However, the new map would potentially shift five Republican-held seats to Democratic seats.
Passage of Proposition 50 would allow new maps drawn by Congress to take effect – maps that would temporarily override maps drawn by the independent redistricting commission. The new maps will only apply for the next three election cycles: 2026, 2028 and 2030. After 2030, the redistricting commission will again have the power to certify new district maps.
For months now, Trump has been pressuring Republican-controlled legislatures to redraw their maps mid-cycle rather than wait until after the 2030 Census, when maps are typically redrawn. Currently, several Republican-controlled states, including Missouri, Texas and North Carolina, have approved new gerrymandered congressional maps that are expected to flip seats currently held by Democrats.
The recently approved measure will change the percentage of Democrats and Republicans in ten California congressional districts, giving Democrats an advantage in Republican-led districts as well as in areas considered swing districts.
California has 52 congressional seats, nine of which are Republican and 43 are Democratic. However, the new map would potentially shift five Republican-held seats to Democratic seats.
Passage of Proposition 50 would allow new maps drawn by Congress to take effect – maps that would temporarily override maps drawn by the independent redistricting commission. The new maps will only apply for the next three election cycles: 2026, 2028 and 2030. After 2030, the redistricting commission will again have the power to certify new district maps.
Newsom proposed a ballot measure, Proposition 50, to temporarily bypass the commission at a time when Democratic-led states need urgent action to help national Democrats offset Trump's power grab.
For months now, Trump has been pressuring Republican-controlled legislatures to redraw their maps mid-cycle rather than wait until after the 2030 Census, when maps are typically redrawn. Currently, several Republican-controlled states, including Missouri, Texas and North Carolina, have approved new gerrymandered congressional maps that are expected to flip seats currently held by Democrats.
The recently approved measure will change the percentage of Democrats and Republicans in ten California congressional districts, giving Democrats an advantage in Republican-led districts as well as in areas considered swing districts.
California has 52 congressional seats, nine of which are Republican and 43 are Democratic. However, the new map would potentially shift five Republican-held seats to Democratic seats.
Passage of Proposition 50 would allow new maps drawn by Congress to take effect – maps that would temporarily override maps drawn by the independent redistricting commission. The new maps will only apply for the next three election cycles: 2026, 2028 and 2030. After 2030, the redistricting commission will again have the power to certify new district maps.
In 2008, California voters approved a measure that shifted the role of drawing congressional and state legislative districts from the state Legislature to a nonpartisan, independent redistricting commission consisting of five Republicans, five Democrats and four independents. The California Citizens' Reapportionment Commission is committed to strict non-partisan rulesenacted as a way to ensure fair representation of constituencies. The commission was entrusted over the years with drawing the boundaries of Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts.
Newsom proposed a ballot measure, Proposition 50, to temporarily bypass the commission at a time when Democratic-led states need urgent action to help national Democrats offset Trump's power grab.
For months now, Trump has been pressuring Republican-controlled legislatures to redraw their maps mid-cycle rather than wait until after the 2030 Census, when maps are typically redrawn. Currently, several Republican-controlled states, including Missouri, Texas and North Carolina, have approved new gerrymandered congressional maps that are expected to flip seats currently held by Democrats.
The recently approved measure will change the percentage of Democrats and Republicans in ten California congressional districts, giving Democrats an advantage in Republican-led districts as well as in areas considered swing districts.
California has 52 congressional seats, nine of which are Republican and 43 are Democratic. However, the new map would potentially shift five Republican-held seats to Democratic seats.
Passage of Proposition 50 would allow new maps drawn by Congress to take effect – maps that would temporarily override maps drawn by the independent redistricting commission. The new maps will only apply for the next three election cycles: 2026, 2028 and 2030. After 2030, the redistricting commission will again have the power to certify new district maps.
That's because California, like many blue states, controls the creation of congressional district boundaries. This is a good government approach to congressional map-drawing that helps guard against the kind of racial and political gerrymandering that Trump is now engaging in, successfully putting pressure on red states (many red states have been doing this practice for years, and many long before Trump was even a figure in American politics).
In 2008, California voters approved a measure that shifted the role of drawing congressional and state legislative districts from the state Legislature to a nonpartisan, independent redistricting commission consisting of five Republicans, five Democrats and four independents. The California Citizens' Reapportionment Commission is committed to strict non-partisan rulesenacted as a way to ensure fair representation of constituencies. The commission was entrusted over the years with drawing the boundaries of Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts.
Newsom proposed a ballot measure, Proposition 50, to temporarily bypass the commission at a time when Democratic-led states need urgent action to help national Democrats offset Trump's power grab.
For months now, Trump has been pressuring Republican-controlled legislatures to redraw their maps mid-cycle rather than wait until after the 2030 Census, when maps are typically redrawn. Currently, several Republican-controlled states, including Missouri, Texas and North Carolina, have approved new gerrymandered congressional maps that are expected to flip seats currently held by Democrats.
The recently approved measure will change the percentage of Democrats and Republicans in ten California congressional districts, giving Democrats an advantage in Republican-led districts as well as in areas considered swing districts.
California has 52 congressional seats, nine of which are Republican and 43 are Democratic. However, the new map would potentially shift five Republican-held seats to Democratic seats.
Passage of Proposition 50 would allow new maps drawn by Congress to take effect – maps that would temporarily override maps drawn by the independent redistricting commission. The new maps will only apply for the next three election cycles: 2026, 2028 and 2030. After 2030, the redistricting commission will again have the power to certify new district maps.
In June, the Trump administration began pressuring Texas Republicans to approve new congressional maps. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) was quick to bow to Trump's pressure in August and signed a bill to pass new maps ahead of the 2026 elections. In response, California's Democratic-controlled Legislature approved new congressional maps that could not take effect until California voters approved Proposition 50.
That's because California, like many blue states, controls the creation of congressional district boundaries. This is a good government approach to congressional map-drawing that helps guard against the kind of racial and political gerrymandering that Trump is now engaging in, successfully putting pressure on red states (many red states have been doing this practice for years, and many long before Trump was even a figure in American politics).
In 2008, California voters approved a measure that shifted the role of drawing congressional and state legislative districts from the state Legislature to a nonpartisan, independent redistricting commission consisting of five Republicans, five Democrats and four independents. The California Citizens' Reapportionment Commission is committed to strict non-partisan rulesenacted as a way to ensure fair representation of constituencies. The commission was entrusted over the years with drawing the boundaries of Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts.
Newsom proposed a ballot measure, Proposition 50, to temporarily bypass the commission at a time when Democratic-led states need urgent action to help national Democrats offset Trump's power grab.
For months now, Trump has been pressuring Republican-controlled legislatures to redraw their maps mid-cycle rather than wait until after the 2030 Census, when maps are typically redrawn. Currently, several Republican-controlled states, including Missouri, Texas and North Carolina, have approved new gerrymandered congressional maps that are expected to flip seats currently held by Democrats.
The recently approved measure will change the percentage of Democrats and Republicans in ten California congressional districts, giving Democrats an advantage in Republican-led districts as well as in areas considered swing districts.
California has 52 congressional seats, nine of which are Republican and 43 are Democratic. However, the new map would potentially shift five Republican-held seats to Democratic seats.
Passage of Proposition 50 would allow new maps drawn by Congress to take effect – maps that would temporarily override maps drawn by the independent redistricting commission. The new maps will only apply for the next three election cycles: 2026, 2028 and 2030. After 2030, the redistricting commission will again have the power to certify new district maps.
The ballot measure, known as Proposition 50, was sponsored by California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and introduced earlier this year. Trump succeeded in forcing several Republican-led state legislatures to redraft their congressional maps mid-cycle to try to ensure Republicans retained control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
In June, the Trump administration began pressuring Texas Republicans to approve new congressional maps. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) was quick to bow to Trump's pressure in August and signed a bill to pass new maps ahead of the 2026 elections. In response, California's Democratic-controlled Legislature approved new congressional maps that could not take effect until California voters approved Proposition 50.
That's because California, like many blue states, controls the creation of congressional district boundaries. This is a good government approach to congressional map-drawing that helps guard against the kind of racial and political gerrymandering that Trump is now engaging in, successfully putting pressure on red states (many red states have been doing this practice for years, and many long before Trump was even a figure in American politics).
In 2008, California voters approved a measure that shifted the role of drawing congressional and state legislative districts from the state Legislature to a nonpartisan, independent redistricting commission consisting of five Republicans, five Democrats and four independents. The California Citizens' Reapportionment Commission is committed to strict non-partisan rulesenacted as a way to ensure fair representation of constituencies. The commission was entrusted over the years with drawing the boundaries of Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts.
Newsom proposed a ballot measure, Proposition 50, to temporarily bypass the commission at a time when Democratic-led states need urgent action to help national Democrats offset Trump's power grab.
For months now, Trump has been pressuring Republican-controlled legislatures to redraw their maps mid-cycle rather than wait until after the 2030 Census, when maps are typically redrawn. Currently, several Republican-controlled states, including Missouri, Texas and North Carolina, have approved new gerrymandered congressional maps that are expected to flip seats currently held by Democrats.
The recently approved measure will change the percentage of Democrats and Republicans in ten California congressional districts, giving Democrats an advantage in Republican-led districts as well as in areas considered swing districts.
California has 52 congressional seats, nine of which are Republican and 43 are Democratic. However, the new map would potentially shift five Republican-held seats to Democratic seats.
Passage of Proposition 50 would allow new maps drawn by Congress to take effect – maps that would temporarily override maps drawn by the independent redistricting commission. The new maps will only apply for the next three election cycles: 2026, 2028 and 2030. After 2030, the redistricting commission will again have the power to certify new district maps.
The success of the ballot measure became evident almost immediately after polls closed on the West Coast. AP called the race at 11:00 pm ET.
The ballot measure, known as Proposition 50, was sponsored by California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and introduced earlier this year. Trump succeeded in forcing several Republican-led state legislatures to redraft their congressional maps mid-cycle to try to ensure Republicans retained control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
In June, the Trump administration began pressuring Texas Republicans to approve new congressional maps. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) was quick to bow to Trump's pressure in August and signed a bill to pass new maps ahead of the 2026 elections. In response, California's Democratic-controlled Legislature approved new congressional maps that could not take effect until California voters approved Proposition 50.
That's because California, like many blue states, controls the creation of congressional district boundaries. This is a good government approach to congressional map-drawing that helps guard against the kind of racial and political gerrymandering that Trump is now engaging in, successfully putting pressure on red states (many red states have been doing this practice for years, and many long before Trump was even a figure in American politics).
In 2008, California voters approved a measure that shifted the role of drawing congressional and state legislative districts from the state Legislature to a nonpartisan, independent redistricting commission consisting of five Republicans, five Democrats and four independents. The California Citizens' Reapportionment Commission is committed to strict non-partisan rulesenacted as a way to ensure fair representation of constituencies. The commission was entrusted over the years with drawing the boundaries of Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts.
Newsom proposed a ballot measure, Proposition 50, to temporarily bypass the commission at a time when Democratic-led states need urgent action to help national Democrats offset Trump's power grab.
For months now, Trump has been pressuring Republican-controlled legislatures to redraw their maps mid-cycle rather than wait until after the 2030 Census, when maps are typically redrawn. Currently, several Republican-controlled states, including Missouri, Texas and North Carolina, have approved new gerrymandered congressional maps that are expected to flip seats currently held by Democrats.
The recently approved measure will change the percentage of Democrats and Republicans in ten California congressional districts, giving Democrats an advantage in Republican-led districts as well as in areas considered swing districts.
California has 52 congressional seats, nine of which are Republican and 43 are Democratic. However, the new map would potentially shift five Republican-held seats to Democratic seats.
Passage of Proposition 50 would allow new maps drawn by Congress to take effect – maps that would temporarily override maps drawn by the independent redistricting commission. The new maps will only apply for the next three election cycles: 2026, 2028 and 2030. After 2030, the redistricting commission will again have the power to certify new district maps.
The success of the ballot measure became evident almost immediately after polls closed on the West Coast. AP called the race at 11:00 pm ET.
The ballot measure, known as Proposition 50, was sponsored by California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and introduced earlier this year. Trump succeeded in forcing several Republican-led state legislatures to redraft their congressional maps mid-cycle to try to ensure Republicans retained control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
In June, the Trump administration began pressuring Texas Republicans to approve new congressional maps. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) was quick to bow to Trump's pressure in August and signed a bill to pass new maps ahead of the 2026 elections. In response, California's Democratic-controlled Legislature approved new congressional maps that could not take effect until California voters approved Proposition 50.
That's because California, like many blue states, controls the creation of congressional district boundaries. This is a good government approach to congressional map-drawing that helps guard against the kind of racial and political gerrymandering that Trump is now engaging in, successfully putting pressure on red states (many red states have been doing this practice for years, and many long before Trump was even a figure in American politics).
In 2008, California voters approved a measure that shifted the role of drawing congressional and state legislative districts from the state Legislature to a nonpartisan, independent redistricting commission consisting of five Republicans, five Democrats and four independents. The California Citizens' Reapportionment Commission is committed to strict non-partisan rulesenacted as a way to ensure fair representation of constituencies. The commission was entrusted over the years with drawing the boundaries of Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts.
Newsom proposed a ballot measure, Proposition 50, to temporarily bypass the commission at a time when Democratic-led states need urgent action to help national Democrats offset Trump's power grab.
For months now, Trump has been pressuring Republican-controlled legislatures to redraw their maps mid-cycle rather than wait until after the 2030 Census, when maps are typically redrawn. Currently, several Republican-controlled states, including Missouri, Texas and North Carolina, have approved new gerrymandered congressional maps that are expected to flip seats currently held by Democrats.
The recently approved measure will change the percentage of Democrats and Republicans in ten California congressional districts, giving Democrats an advantage in Republican-led districts as well as in areas considered swing districts.
California has 52 congressional seats, nine of which are Republican and 43 are Democratic. However, the new map would potentially shift five Republican-held seats to Democratic seats.
Passage of Proposition 50 would allow new maps drawn by Congress to take effect – maps that would temporarily override maps drawn by the independent redistricting commission. The new maps will only apply for the next three election cycles: 2026, 2028 and 2030. After 2030, the redistricting commission will again have the power to certify new district maps.
