California voters approved by a large margin a new set of congressional district boundaries in Tuesday’s special election for Proposition 50.
The Election Rigging Response Act, as supporters call it, has received 63.8%-36.2% with all election night precincts partially reporting as of Wednesday morning, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. Voter turnout was just over 35%.
Prop 50 enacts new congressional district maps for the 2026 midterm elections and subsequent elections in 2028 and 2030. The move is likely to shift five seats in the U.S. House of Representatives to Democrats, according the election information website Ballotpedia.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who has said he’s considering a run for the presidency, spearheaded the ballot initiative after Texas adopted mid-decade congressional redistricting that favored Republicans.
“What happened here in California tonight is a victory for the people of this country,” Newsom posted on social media, adding “(President Donald Trump’s) attempts to rig the midterm elections are backfiring. His attempts to silence you are backfiring. His entire presidency is backfiring.”
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
Democrats have a 43-9 advantage in California’s House delegation.
Other Republican-controlled states such as Florida, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, Nebraska and South Carolina are also considering efforts to approve redistricting — which usually takes place every 10 years to reflect new census data.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott told CNN in August, “If California tries to gerrymander, find more districts, listen, Texas has the ability to eliminate 10 Democrats in our state.”
Texas’ House delegation currently is 25 Republicans and 12 Democrats, in addition to one unfilled vacancy after Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner died in March.
Los Angeles County Democratic Party Chair Mark Ramos hailed the proposition’s passage.
“Yesterday, Californians lit a fire for democracy,” he said in a statement. “Voters stood up and said enough to rigged maps and broken promises. The Los Angeles County Democratic Party is proud to have contributed to this historic victory, proof of what we can accomplish when we organize, mobilize, and refuse to back down. Prop 50 is more than a win; it’s a vow to defend our democracy with everything we’ve got. This victory belongs to every organizer, volunteer, and voter who refused to give up on a fairer future. We did this and we’re just getting started!”
On Wednesday, Republicans sued to block Prop 50 redistricting.
State Assemblyman David Tangipa, R-Fresno, the California Republican Party and 18 district voters brought the federal lawsuit, which asks a judge block the new district lines at least temporarily so California’s current districts remain for next year’s midterm elections.
The suit, which also names California Secretary of State Shirley Weber as a defendant, argues that the new Proposition 50 maps are unconstitutional because they improperly use voters’ race as a factor in selecting district boundaries.
In a statement Tuesday night, Republican Party of Orange County Chairman Will O’Neill said, “Millions of Californians will go to bed tonight knowing that their voices have been silenced by backroom deals, Gov. Newsom’s thirst for power, and a cynical campaign funded by George Soros, government unions, and national Democrats.
“Over $130 million was spent to convince Californians that a campaign to steal voters’ power was worth the $300 million price tag for this special election.
“Gavin has kick-started a redistricting effort in other states to counter his avarice. He signed the redistricting legislation before Texas did. And while the blue states fail to find more seats because they already gerrymandered out Republican voices, red states have begun pushing back against this Gavin-mandering.
“His reckless, self-serving actions set off a national fight that ultimately Democrats will lose.”
Rep. Darrell Issa, a Republican who represents areas of San Diego and Riverside counties, said the Prop 50 initiative was an “unprecedented purely partisan campaign that pitted neighbor against neighbor and divided the state as never before.”
In a statement Issa said, “It was difficult to watch as Gavin Newsom and Sacramento’s special interests set about shredding the state constitution, disenfranchising millions of Californians solely because of how they vote, and delivering what they know is an undeserved advantage to Democrats.
“But here’s something Newsom and his cronies don’t know: It won’t work. The worst gerrymander in history has a fatal flaw. Voters get to pick their representatives. Not the other way around.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll continue to represent the people of California — regardless of their party or where they live,” Issa added. “I’m not quitting on California. And neither should anyone else.”
In Los Angeles County, voters approved the measure 73% to 37% with 33.7% voter turnout. Nearly 1.44 million LA County voters approved Prop 50, and over 532,000 voted against it.
Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties’ yes-voting majorities were were less lopsided — 54.6% yes and 45.4% no with 39% turnout in OC, 56.2%-43.8% in Riverside County with 32.4% turnout and 56.8%-43.2% in San Bernardino County with 27.8% voter turnout.
Counties with no-voting majorities totaled 25, including Kern and counties in the northern and eastern areas of the state.
More information on the election results is available on the secretary of state’s website.
