CHICO, Calif. — Members of the political group Reform California, led by California State Assemblyman Carl DeMaio, visited Chico on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, as part of their campaign against Proposition 50 and to promote a voter ID initiative for the 2026 midterm elections.
Reform California Bus on Oct. 21, 2025, in Chico, Calif. (KRCR){p}{/p}
Speaking at the Chico Women’s Club, DeMaio expressed his belief that public opinion on Prop 50 is divided and urged attendees to help sway voters to oppose it for the Nov. 4 election.
I hope you didn’t come here expecting just to sign the petition. Oh, no, honey, you gotta do a whole lot more than that. Your signature’s appreciated, but it ain’t enough,” DeMaio said.
California State Assemblyman and leader of Reform California Carl DeMaio on Oct. 21, 2025, in Chico, Calif. (KRCR){p}{/p}
Although DeMaio did not provide sources, he claimed that current polling shows 44% of Californians oppose Prop 50. He encouraged attendees to personally engage with friends, family, and neighbors to promote voter ID requirements and oppose Prop 50. “If we’re gonna close that gap in the next two weeks, it’s not gonna be because of TV ads. It’s gonna be because you touched someone personally that you conveyed the message,” he said.
Representatives from the Butte County Republican Party were present, collecting signatures for the voter ID initiative and expressing their opposition to Prop 50. “We here don’t want people that live in the Bay Area to be representing us. We want people that can relate to us and what our environment is like,” Teri DuBose stated, central committee chair for the Butte County Republican Party.
Central committee chair for the Butte County Republican Party Teri DuBose on Oct. 21, 2025, in Chico, Calif. (KRCR){p}{/p}
The ‘Yes on 50’ campaign argues that Prop 50 will ensure fair elections in 2026 and is a temporary measure to counteract gerrymandering in Texas. If passed, the redrawn congressional maps in California would expire in 2030. The Northstate’s News reached out to the Butte County Democratic Party for and is still waiting for comment.
Reform California’s bus tour continued with another stop at 6 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2025, at the Win River Resort and Casino in Redding.