The Election Rigging Response Act
We all agree that Fair Maps are the foundation of participatory democracy. Gerrymandering is silencing people’s voice, and should be banned in all 50 states.
In June the administration approached Texas governor and asked to create 5 additional Republican seats in Texas. They followed the order, and approved the new maps in late August despite of opposition from Democratic legislatures, and constituents.
To counter the move, California legislatures passed three bills below and the governor signed them to put Proposition 50, the Election Rigging Response Act on November 4, 2025 Special Election.
Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8 (ACA 8): This bill allows California voters to adopt a new, temporary congressional map. The new map would be used for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections.
Senate Bill 280 (SB 280): This bill establishes the timeline and procedures for the special election, setting the date for November 4, 2025, and provides the necessary funding.
Assembly Bill 604 (AB 604): This bill defines the specific temporary congressional district maps that would take effect if voters approve ACA 8. The new maps would replace the current ones drawn by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission until the commission draws new maps after the 2030 U.S. Census.
Proposition 50 Title and Summary (Constitution Amendment)
Official title: Authorizes Temporary Changes to Congressional District Maps in Response to Texas’ Partisan Redistricting. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
- In response to Texas’ mid-decade partisan congressional redistricting, this measure temporarily requires new congressional district maps, as passed by the Legislature in August 2025, to be used in California’s congressional elections through 2030.
- Retains California’s independent Citizens Redistricting Commission and directs the Commission to resume enacting congressional district maps in 2031 after the 2030 census and every ten years thereafter.
- Establishes state policy supporting use of fair, independent, and nonpartisan redistricting commissions nationwide.
California Constitution Amendment Requirements
The California Constitution can be amended by the Legislature, which must pass a two-thirds supermajority vote in both houses, or by the people through an initiative petition requiring signatures equal to 8% of the previous gubernatorial votes. Both methods require the proposed amendment to be submitted to the state’s voters, with adoption occurring by a simple majority vote. The Governor does not have a role in the process as amendments passed by the Legislature are not subject to a veto.
The Costs
2025 statewide special election: The election planned for November 4, 2025, which includes Proposition 50 on congressional redistricting, is estimated to cost taxpayers $282 million. This covers $251 million for county-run election costs and $31 million for the Secretary of State’s administrative costs. The final cost is expected to increase due to errors in the voter information guide.
2026 election: One-time costs to counties of up to a few million dollars statewide. County costs would be to update election materials to reflect new congressional district maps.
The Maps
Democratic Congress Campaign Committee led by Congress member Zoe Lofgren hired Paul Mitchell, data consultant who heads the demography firm Redistricting Partners. He used guidance principle of Independent Citizens Commission as much as possible.
- Voting Rights Act of 1965: Not dilute the Racial minority ➜ NAACP endorsement, CAUSE analysis states increased Asian Voice
- CA Independent Commissions Criterias (Contiguity, Community of Interest, Integrity, Identifiable by residents, Compactness) when possible ➜ 80% residents are in the same district as before.
Partisan Changes of voter registration and 2024 Presidential election results
D Advantage: Voter Registration difference between Dems and Republicans (Red or light blue over 10 points, within 10 points in purple)
24 Pres Dems: Kamala Harris vote in percentage: Safe Dem (>55), Likely Dem (52.5-55 in light blue), Toss Up (47.5-52.5 in purple), Likely Republican (45-47.5 in light red), Safe Republican (<45 in red)
Proposed District Maps: For further analysis of the districts check “A Detailed Analysis of California’s (Maybe) New Congressional Map” at Inside Election.
Yes or No, it is the question.
Yes on Prop 50: California will use Democratic leaning Congressional map in 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections:
- Will neutralize the Republican leaning Congressional map approved in TX
- Will give Dems a fighting chance to get House majority in 2026 (It is not a done deal. There are still 5 toss up districts.)
- After the 2030 census redistricting by Independent Citizens Commission will resume
- Measure reaffirms California’s commitment to Independent Citizens Commission in all 50 states
No on Prop 50: California will keep Independent Citizens Commission drawn current maps.
Who supports and opposes Prop 50?
| Yes: StopElectionRigging.com ($140M) | No: NoOnProp50.org ($78M) | |
| Elected Officials | U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D) U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D) U.S. Sen. Chris S. Murphy (D) U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar (D) U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D) U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia (D) U.S. Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D) U.S. Rep. Sara Jacobs (D) U.S. House Min. Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D) U.S. Rep. Mike Levin (D) U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D) U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D) U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D) U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D) U.S. Rep. Lateefah Simon (D) U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D) Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) ($2.6M) Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis (D) State Senators (20 Senators) Tim Grayson (D) Aisha Wahab (D) State Assembly members (40 members) Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D) Liz Ortega (D) Rhodesia Ransom (D) | U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert (R) ($0.25M) U.S. Rep. Vince Fong (R) ($0.1M) U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R) U.S. OH Rep Jim Jordan (R) ($0.3M) U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley (R) U.S. Rep. Young Kim (R) U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R) ($40K) U.S. Rep. Tom McClintock (R) U.S. Rep. Jay Obernolte (R) ($0.1M) U.S. Rep. David G. Valadao (R) State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil (R) State Sen. Brian Jones (R) State Sen. Tony Strickland (R) State Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares (R) State Asm. James Gallagher (R) State Asm. Alexandra Macedo (R) State Asm. Kate Sanchez (R) State Asm. Tri Ta (R) |
| Former Officials | President Barack Obama (D) VP Kamala D. Harris (D) U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Gov. Gray Davis (D) | U.S. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R) ($1M) Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) |
| Unions | AFSCME California ($1M) Brotherhood of Carpenters ($2M) California Conference of Carpenters ($1.6M) California Faculty Association ($0.5M) California Federation of Teachers ($1M) California Labor Federation ($1M) California Nurses Association ($3.3M) California Professional Firefighters California Teachers Association ($3.1M) National Union of Healthcare Workers SEIU California State Council ($1M) United Domestic Workers of America ($0.6M) United Farm Workers United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council ($80K) | |
| Organizations & Individuals | Individual Small Donations ($49M) Democratic Party of California ($3M) California Working Families Party House Majority PAC ($10M) 314 Action Fund ($1M) Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) CA National Organization for Women CHC (Congressional Hispanic Caucus) Bold PAC California NAACP State Conference Courage California Equality California Indivisible MoveOn.org PAC ($6.9M) National Democratic Redistricting Committee Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California ($100K) Reproductive Freedom for All Sierra Club CA Swing Left Vote Save America | Individual Small Donations ($8.3k) Republican Party of California Congressional Leadership Fund ($42M) Asians Making America Great Again California Business Roundtable California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce California Manufacturers & Technology Association Conservatives For America New Majority PAC Reform California No on Prop 50 – Protect Voters First (Charles Munger, Jr. $33M) |
Who took neutral position?
Before the release of proposed maps, Common Cause and League of Women Voters opposed gerrymandering in CA. They retracted their oppositions and now takes neutral position.
The California Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted to remain neutral on Proposition 50.
League of Women Voters California‘s press release on Prop 50 states that they do not take positions.
Common Causes has developed Fairness Criteria for Mid-decade redistricting. California passed these criteria while Texas and Missouri failed.
- Proportionality: Any mid-decade redistricting should be a targeted response proportional to the threat posed by mid-decade gerrymanders in other states.
- Public participation: Any redistricting must include meaningful public participation, whether through ballot initiatives or open public processes.
- Racial equity: Redistricting must not further racial discrimination or dilute the political voice of Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian American, and Pacific Islander, or other communities of color.
- Federal reform: Leaders pursuing mid-decade redistricting must publicly endorse the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act, including provisions banning mid-decade redistricting and partisan gerrymandering.
- Endorsement of independent redistricting: Leaders pursuing mid-decade redistricting must publicly endorse a neutral, fair redistricting system, such as citizen-led independent redistricting commissions, as the long-term solution.
- Time-limited: Any new redistricting maps must expire following the 2030 Census, which counts all people in our country, and be replaced through the regular decennial redistricting process.