1 of 19

The Ins and Outs of Proposition 50

October 2025

Developed by the LWV of Stanislaus County based on the Easy Voter Guide

2 of 19

The League of Women Voters (LWV) is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering voters and enhancing democracy through education and advocacy. It works to promote informed and active participation in government, advocating for policies that support voting rights, electoral integrity, and social justice.

3 of 19

How to Evaluate a Ballot Measure

What does the measure seek to accomplish? Carefully read the bill.

How did it get here - legislature or initiative process?

Real sponsors and opponents? Follow the money!

How will it be paid for and by whom?

Does it create a mandate? With or without funds?

4 of 19

Use Trusted Sources for Information

League of Women Voters of California: lwvc.org

Secretary of State Official Ballot Materials: sos.ca.gov/elections

Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO): lao.org

Ballotpedia: Ballotpedia.org

Cal Matters: calmatters.org

5 of 19

State Proposition 50

Authorizes temporary changes to Congressional District Maps in Response to Texas’ Partisanship Redistricting. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.

Requires temporary use of new congressional district maps through 2030. Directs independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to resume enacting congressional district maps in 2031. Establishes policy supporting nonpartisan redistricting commissions nationwide.

A Yes vote means you support the change and a No vote means you want to leave things as they are.

6 of 19

How is California Represented in Congress?

Currently, 52 members in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Elected for a 2-year term.
Represent the people from their district in Washington, D.C.
The House of Representatives help develop the federal budget and U.S.policy priorities. They oversee administrative agencies and (with the Senate) make new laws.

7 of 19

What are Congressional Districts?

Specific regions in each state where an individual is elected

to represent that region in Congress.

District lines show the boundaries on a map of each region.
The lines are usually redrawn every 10 years based on the new

census.

8 of 19

What is Redistricting and Gerrymandering?

Every 10 years the U.S. census counts everyone in the U.S. Overall representation in the House of Representatives and redistricting in each district is based on the census.

Redistricting: district lines are redrawn so that each district has about the same number of people.
Gerrymandering: district lines are drawn to favor one political party over another

9 of 19

The Way It Is Now

2021: districts were drawn by the state’s independent Citizens Redistricting Commission until 2031.
Commission is made up of state voters selected to draw the map boundaries.
Commission is bound by specific requirements:

Cannot favor a candidate or political party.
Listen to and use public input to try to keep neighborhoods together.

10 of 19

Why Proposition 50?

Summer 2025: Texas Legislature called special session – redraw Congressional districts to eliminate 5 Democratic-held seats.
Governor Newsom pledged to offset those losses with 5 gains in California.
Citizens Redistricting Commission prohibits direct action by the Governor or state Legislature.
Ballot proposition is the only option to change the redistricting process.

11 of 19

What will Proposition 50 do?

Change the California Constitution to replace the 2021 maps drawn by the Citizens Redistricting Commission with maps drawn by the California Legislature.
New maps used for 2026, 2028, and 2030 Congressional elections.
New maps provide 5 more Democratic-party favored districts in California.
After 2030 Census, process reverts back to the Citizens Redistricting Commission who would redraw the maps following the established guidelines.

12 of 19

Impact on Solano County

The new map would unify Vacaville and other parts of Solano County into one congressional district. The majority of Solano County would be consolidated into the 8th district, which is currently represented by John Garamendi.

13 of 19

New Map

Current Map

bit.ly/Prop50Maps

calmatters.org/california-voter-guide-2025/

14 of 19

Fiscal Impact

The cost is less than 1/10 of 1% of the state’s $220 billion budget

Counties: estimated at few million dollars to update election materials.

State: approximately $200,000

Does not include the cost of the special election.
Special election cost estimate: $282-$284 million.

15 of 19

Official Support and Opposition

Entity

Total

The Election Rigging Response Act

Governor Newsom’s Ballot

Measure Committee

Major Donors

HMP (PAC)

California Teachers Association Issues PAC Newsom for Governor campaign

Michael Moritz Reed Hastings

California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO

SEIU California Individual donors

$40 million

Opponents

No on Prop 50 – Protect Voters First, sponsored by Hold Politicians Accountable

Charles Thomas Munger, Jr. Smaller individual donors

$35 million

Supporters

16 of 19

What Supporters Say

Prop 50 is a short-term, temporary emergency plan needed to stop President Trump’s attempt to unfairly rig next year’s congressional election.
Prop 50 gives voters the ability to approve the district lines in this election.
Prop 50 creates fair maps that reflect California’s diverse communities and protect our voices from partisan gerrymandering.
Prop 50 keeps California a leader in fair elections by preserving its independent redistricting system.
Prop 50 strengthens democracy by making sure that Republicans don’t have an unfair advantage in Congress.

17 of 19

What Opponents Say

Prop 50 is a power grab by politicians that undoes fair election reforms and returns

California to gerrymandered districts that benefit politicians over voters.

Prop 50 replaces an open public process with secretive political backroom deals.
Prop 50 hurts fair representation by dividing neighborhoods and weakening minority

voices in elections.

Prop 50 lets politicians control district lines for years and could open the door to permanent,

not temporary, control.

Prop 50 costs taxpayers $200 million when the state is cutting funding to important

programs because of budget problems.

18 of 19

LWVC Position

LWVC and LWVSC are neutral on Proposition 50.
Empowering voters: The League believes the focus should be on ensuring voters have the information they need to make an informed decision and participate in the special election. The LWVC Education Fund is working to provide non-partisan, factual information to voters.
Political strategy: The LWVC stated it would not be drawn into the partisan struggle surrounding the measure.
Consistent messaging: The decision to remain neutral aligns the state and local leagues with the position of the national organization.