California’s political landscape is once again in the national spotlight as voters prepare to decide the fate of Proposition 50—a mid-decade redistricting measure that has become a flashpoint in the state’s ongoing battle with the Trump administration. In a year marked by political upheaval, Prop. 50 has emerged as both a symbol of resistance and a test of the state’s commitment to democratic norms, with Governor Gavin Newsom leading the charge against what he and his allies describe as unprecedented federal overreach.
It was back in August 2025 when Governor Newsom kicked off the Prop. 50 campaign, warning fellow Democrats that victory would not come easily. Early polling reflected bipartisan skepticism, with many Californians wary of setting aside the state’s independent redistricting commission in favor of maps that would temporarily favor Democrats until 2030. Yet, as the campaign unfolded, momentum shifted dramatically. By late October, a Public Policy Institute of California poll showed 56% of likely voters supporting the measure, while a Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies survey put support at a robust 60%.
The shift in public sentiment did not happen by accident. Newsom and his team, with help from celebrities and Democratic icons like former President Barack Obama, marketed Prop. 50 as the “Election Rigging Response Act.” The campaign’s central argument: Prop. 50 was a necessary, if temporary, fix to counter aggressive gerrymandering efforts in Texas, where President Trump had reportedly pressed Governor Greg Abbott to deliver five additional Republican congressional seats. “It definitely was uncertain at the beginning,” Juan Rodriguez, a senior strategist on the Prop. 50 campaign, told the Los Angeles Times. “And what we saw really quickly is just a broad coalition of folks really step up, and step up in record speed.”
Financially, the campaign became a juggernaut. As of October 18, Newsom’s ballot measure committee had raised roughly $114 million, with about $37 million still on hand by late October—so much so that donors were told they could stop giving. In stark contrast, Republican efforts to block Prop. 50 raised only about $44 million, and the opposition appeared fractured, with party leaders blaming one another for the lackluster showing.
But the stakes go far beyond campaign finance. According to The Hill, Newsom’s campaign was framed as a direct response to what Democrats see as the Trump administration’s “authoritarian tactics”—from the federalization of National Guard troops and sweeping immigration raids to controversial attacks on universities and the judiciary. Newsom, who has openly acknowledged considering a 2028 presidential run, has taken a particularly combative approach, even mimicking Trump’s brash online persona. In a recent interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, Newsom explained, “The whole expression was to not allow it to be normalized. It was becoming normalized … so I put a mirror up to that madness.”
His social media strategy has drawn both praise and criticism. Just last week, Newsom’s press office posted an AI-generated image of the governor in a “Star Wars” themed outfit, echoing a similar image posted by the White House of Trump earlier in the year. The caption read, “HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL — EXCLUDING THE RADICAL RIGHT EMPIRE WHO WANTS TO RIP AWAY FOOD, HEALTH CARE, AND HOPE FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GALAXY!” Newsom has also warned that the upcoming presidential election could become a “Putin election” if Democrats fail to stand up, referencing concerns about election interference and fairness.
For many Democratic voters, Prop. 50 is more than just a ballot measure—it’s a rallying point after a bruising 2024 election that saw Donald Trump return to the White House and Republicans seize full control of Congress. “Registered Democrats think their party are losers,” said Paul Mitchell, vice president of Political Data Inc., in comments to the Los Angeles Times. “They get kicked in the nuts, and then they want to write a sternly worded memo to the White House. That is not what [Democratic voters] want. They want someone who is going to fight back, and that’s what Newsom has been able to do.”
California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks echoed this sentiment, saying the party base is “sick and tired of being sick and tired” and that Prop. 50 has given voters a meaningful chance to push back. Yet, even among supporters, there’s recognition that passing Prop. 50 is only a first step. Lorena Gonzalez, president of the California Federation of Labor Unions, told the Los Angeles Times, “This came at the right time. It was really good. It allows us to do something. But in itself, it does not signal a change.” She stressed the need for Democrats to reconnect with working-class voters on core issues like the economy, jobs, and the impact of artificial intelligence.
On the other side, critics argue that Prop. 50 undermines California’s tradition of independent redistricting. Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and others have warned that the measure allows politicians to “choose their voters” rather than the other way around, setting a dangerous precedent for future partisan gerrymandering. Opponents also point to the significant taxpayer expense of the special election required to implement new maps, and warn that weakening the independent commission could erode public trust in the electoral process. “These victories paper over the extraordinary chasm in their coalition,” said Republican strategist Mike Madrid. “You all are stuck. You don’t have a party anymore. You have anti-Trump politicians.”
Despite these criticisms, Prop. 50’s supporters see it as a justified response to what they describe as Trump’s own efforts to manipulate congressional maps. Jonathan Paik, director of the Million Votes Project coalition, told the Los Angeles Times, “We heard very consistently from voters that they were concerned about the impact of Trump’s ICE raids and the rising cost of living. These raids don’t just target immigrants, they destabilize entire communities and deepen economic struggles. Voters saw Prop. 50 as a way to restore balance and protect their families’ ability to work, pay rent and live safely.”
Pre-election polling reflects this dynamic. The UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies found that 93% of likely Democratic voters supported Prop. 50, along with 57% of independents. Conversely, 91% of Republicans opposed the measure. The Public Policy Institute of California’s survey similarly found that 96% of Prop. 50 supporters disapproved of Trump, and 94% of Democrats strongly opposed the administration’s immigration raids. Most strikingly, 69% of all respondents—including 93% of Democrats—said there should be a way for undocumented immigrants to stay in the country legally.
As the vote approaches, Newsom and his allies are preparing for what could be their first major victory since 2024. Yet, even as they celebrate, there’s a clear understanding that Prop. 50 is not a panacea. “Do Democrats have work to do? Absolutely,” said Juan Rodriguez. “And that’s something they are going to have to argue heading into the election. But from my perspective, Prop. 50 is something to build off of. In fact, it’s just the beginning.”
For California’s Democrats, Prop. 50 represents a rare moment of unity and hope—a chance to push back against a White House they see as out of control, and to chart a new course in a political era defined by sharp divisions and high stakes.
