California Proposition 50 — Vote YES on the Election Rigging Response Act

“Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.” —John Lewis

What is Proposition 50?

Proposition 50 — California Democrats’ response to the Republican power grab in Texas — is an exemplar of what good trouble looks like. This temporary plan to change congressional maps is so critical to the nation that it warrants a special election and is the sole item on the 2025 state ballot.

Here’s the backstory: In 2008 California voted to take the power to draw state districts from the legislature and give it to the non-partisan Citizens Redistricting Commission. Two years later, voters approved another proposition to extend the commission’s power to draw district lines for congressional house seats as well. The reasoning behind these changes was clear: to create fairer, more competitive districts and ensure that representatives would be accountable to their voters.

If passed, Proposition 50, however, will temporarily put the power for redistricting back in the hands of the legislature. These state lawmakers will create new congressional maps to be used in elections through 2030. The Citizens Redistricting Commission will resume the responsibility for drawing the districts in 2031, after the next census.

Why did the California Legislature and Governor Newsom take this unprecedented step?

In the summer of 2025 President Donald Trump called Texas Governor Gregg Abbott on the phone to demand that he redistrict the state in the middle of the decade. Trump never hid his motivation for this unusual request: he wanted to carve out an additional five Republican-leaning congressional districts to bolster the party’s odds of keeping control of the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2026 midterms.

Prop 50 is California’s answer to Texas’s partisan gerrymandering.

The proposed map adds five Democratic-leaning congressional districts to the state’s total.

Since Texas opened this political can of worms, more and more states have or are considering scrambling their district maps. There is one key difference between California and Texas and other states bowing to the president: Californians have the opportunity to weigh in on this plan with their vote. With democracy on the line, we strongly recommend that every Californian vote “Yes.”

Isn’t this gerrymandering? Why should I support this proposition?

Technically, Proposition 50 is gerrymandering. For many Democrats and lovers of democracy, this fact has created an ethical dilemma. But this act is also a response to an utterly lawless administration and president. When you vote yes on Proposition 50, you send the message that the people are going to fight back. We will not accept Republicans’ attempts to manipulate and steal our elections.

• Vote: If you are a California voter, please vote YES on Proposition 50.

• Get Loud: Talk to your neighbors, friends and community members about what Prop 50 is and why it’s vitally important. Make sure they understand that Prop 50 is the same thing as the Election Rigging Response Act.

• Get Involved: It’s not too late to canvass and get out of the vote for Prop 50. If you don’t live in California, you can join phone or text banks and make donations. Find volunteer opportunities through Grassroots Dems or Mobilize.

• Get Inspired: Read about grassroots activist Malena (also seen in the adorable video below.)

• Share: Share the story of Prop 50 with videos and memes on social media.

It’s called Prop 50 for a reason. California’s actions against Trump and Republicans’ unfair, undemocratic practices will protect all 50 states. Our country depends on each and every one of us doing our part.