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Prop 50: Opponents of California’s Redistricting Effort Take Their Case on the Road 

October 7, 2025

The Protect Voters First Coalition is opposing California's Proposition 50, a redistricting plan they claim would give Democrats an advantage in upcoming U.S. House elections while diluting Black voting power in certain regions. Coalition members argue the initiative would undermine the nonpartisan redistricting system established by voters over a decade ago and fragment communities with cohesive voting interests. They specifically highlight how San Joaquin County would be divided into as many as five congressional districts instead of the current two, and how Black communities in various parts of California would be split across multiple districts.

Who is affected

  • Black voters and communities in California, particularly in regions like San Joaquin County, South Sacramento, Long Beach, Downey, Bellflower, and East Bay Area cities
  • Residents of Stockton who would be divided into multiple congressional districts
  • Communities that currently have political power based on voting blocs
  • Voters in California's 9th, 3rd, 47th, and 43rd Congressional Districts
  • San Joaquin County residents who would see their representation divided among five congressional districts instead of two

What action is being taken

  • The Protect Voters First Coalition is actively voicing concerns about Proposition 50 and campaigning against it
  • Bishop Dwight Earl Williams and other coalition members are holding meetings with Black media outlets to raise awareness about the measure's potential impacts
  • The Say No on Prop 50 campaign committee is conducting opposition efforts funded by Republican donor Charles Munger Jr.
  • Governor Gavin Newsom is promoting the "Election Rigging Response Act" as a response to partisan gerrymandering in other states
  • The California Legislative Black Caucus is officially supporting Proposition 50

Why it matters

  • The redistricting plan could dilute Black voting power by splitting communities across multiple districts
  • It would erode the nonpartisan redistricting system established by voters more than a decade ago
  • If approved, the new map would be used for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 federal elections
  • It would significantly alter representation in several areas with substantial Black populations, potentially reducing their collective political influence
  • The measure represents a shift from California's independent redistricting commission to legislative control of the redistricting process

What's next

  • California voters will decide whether to approve Proposition 50 in the November ballot
  • If voters approve the redistricting plan, the new California congressional map would be implemented for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 federal elections
  • The independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission would meet to draw a new map after the 2030 Census

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint