Voting is underway in California’s special election on Proposition 50, a ballot measure that would change the state’s congressional districts temporarily to favor sending more Democrats to the U.S. House of Representatives.Prop 50 is just one piece of a larger national fight in which Republicans and Democrats are trying to gerrymander their congressional districts to determine which party controls Congress midway through President Donald Trump’s term. (Video Above: Californians set to vote on new Congressional maps. How did we get here?)In California specifically, Democratic leaders pushed for the new maps to target five Republican-held congressional seats. If the initiative is passed, the districts would include more Democratic voters than they currently do. So, who are the representatives who would be vulnerable to losing their seats?Doug LaMalfa, District 1Rep. LaMalfa was elected to Congress in 2012. He represents a large portion of Northern California, including just north of Sacramento up to the Oregon border, including the cities of Chico and Redding. LaMalfa is a Northern California native, and prior to serving in Congress, he was elected to the California State Assembly and California State Senate. He has not been silent on his criticism of Prop 50, and that sentiment also extends to Republican-led initiatives in other states, like Texas.“It’s really ugly and no matter which side of the aisle you’re on, it doesn’t look good,” he said in a heated town hall earlier this year. “It doesn’t give you more faith in the political process if legislators draw the lines merely to have an outcome for a partisan win.”If Prop 50 passes, Democrats would hold 10 percentage points more of this district than Republicans.Kevin Kiley, District 3Rep. Kiley, a Granite Bay High School grad, was first elected to Congress in 2022. Before that, he was elected to the California State Assembly in 2016. His district covers much of California’s border with Nevada, spanning Plumas, Sierra, Nevada, Placer, Alpine, Mono and Inyo counties, along with portions of Sacramento, Yuba and El Dorado counties. Kiley has been very vocal about his opposition to the redistricting efforts across the nation. Soon after the gerrymandering began, Kiley drafted legislation to invalidate mid-decade redistricting nationwide, but it lost traction after he introduced it in August.On California Politics 360, Kiley said he heard from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle opposing mid-decade redistricting. “I don’t like gerrymandering wherever it occurs,” Kiley told KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala. “I will stand up to either party in the interest of serving my constituents.”Former Sacramento area State Sen. Richard Pan already announced he would run for Kiley’s seat if Prop 50 passes.When asked to confirm he’s running for the seat regardless of Prop 50, Pan said, “I’m running for this seat in Congress, correct, yes. With Proposition 50, the lines will change and so forth but I’m running because the people of California, of this district, they need representation.”If Prop 50 passes, Democrats would hold eight percentage points more of this district than Republicans.David Valadao, District 22Rep. Valadao has already changed districts in his congressional career due to redistricting. He was first elected to the House of Representatives for California’s District 21 in 2012. In 2022, he was elected for his fifth term in Congress for District 22. His district covers a portion of the Central Valley and includes most of Kings County and parts of Tulare and Kern counties, including the east side of Bakersfield. He has been opposed to the redistricting effort. In July, NBC News reported that Valadao provided a critical vote in a tax-cut and spending package that slashed Medicaid and food stamps; a move that ultimately led to some Democratic candidates stepping forward to challenge for his seat. If Prop 50 passes, Democrats would hold 17 percentage points more of this district than Republicans.Ken Calvert, District 41Rep. Calvert is a lifelong resident of Riverside County who was first elected to Congress in 1992, making him one of the most senior members serving in the House of Representatives. Because of his established career, he has seen various redistricting efforts through his tenure in Congress, but has maintained his seat. His current district stretches across Riverside County, including the famous vacation destination Palm Springs. Amid his current term, Calvert’s Congressional biography lists some of his priorities as strengthening the economy, supporting the military, and immigration enforcement. CalMatters reported that several candidates are seeking to challenge Calvert for his long-held seat, including former OneRepublic bassist Tim Myers.If Prop 50 passes, Democrats would hold 20 percentage points more of this district than Republicans.Darrell Issa, District 48Rep. Issa had a less traditional path to Congress, serving in the U.S. Army after high school, then establishing a successful business career, before venturing into politics. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2000, and also saw his share of redistricting. He’s the only representative on this list who is not originally from California.Issa’s district includes some central and eastern portions of San Diego County and part of Riverside County. NBC 7 San Diego reported that there are already some Democratic challengers looking to take Issa’s seat if Prop 50 passes—San Diego City Councilwoman Marni von Wilpert and former U.S. Department of Labor official Ammar Campa-Najjar.If Prop 50 passes, Democrats would hold four percentage points more of this district than Republicans.| Dig Deeper | See a map below of the districts proposed by Democrats and how the voter make-up would shift. Learn more about Prop 50 at the links below:Special Election dates and deadlinesVoter turnout so far on Prop 50California Politics 360: A special report on redistrictingHow a USPS mail service change may delay ballot returns for rural voters Everything to know about Prop 50See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channelPHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=
Voting is underway in California’s special election on Proposition 50, a ballot measure that would change the state’s congressional districts temporarily to favor sending more Democrats to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Prop 50 is just one piece of a larger national fight in which Republicans and Democrats are trying to gerrymander their congressional districts to determine which party controls Congress midway through President Donald Trump’s term.
(Video Above: Californians set to vote on new Congressional maps. How did we get here?)
In California specifically, Democratic leaders pushed for the new maps to target five Republican-held congressional seats. If the initiative is passed, the districts would include more Democratic voters than they currently do.
So, who are the representatives who would be vulnerable to losing their seats?
Doug LaMalfa, District 1
Rep. LaMalfa was elected to Congress in 2012. He represents a large portion of Northern California, including just north of Sacramento up to the Oregon border, including the cities of Chico and Redding.
LaMalfa is a Northern California native, and prior to serving in Congress, he was elected to the California State Assembly and California State Senate.
He has not been silent on his criticism of Prop 50, and that sentiment also extends to Republican-led initiatives in other states, like Texas.
“It’s really ugly and no matter which side of the aisle you’re on, it doesn’t look good,” he said in a heated town hall earlier this year. “It doesn’t give you more faith in the political process if legislators draw the lines merely to have an outcome for a partisan win.”
If Prop 50 passes, Democrats would hold 10 percentage points more of this district than Republicans.
Kevin Kiley, District 3
Rep. Kiley, a Granite Bay High School grad, was first elected to Congress in 2022. Before that, he was elected to the California State Assembly in 2016. His district covers much of California’s border with Nevada, spanning Plumas, Sierra, Nevada, Placer, Alpine, Mono and Inyo counties, along with portions of Sacramento, Yuba and El Dorado counties.
Kiley has been very vocal about his opposition to the redistricting efforts across the nation. Soon after the gerrymandering began, Kiley drafted legislation to invalidate mid-decade redistricting nationwide, but it lost traction after he introduced it in August.
On California Politics 360, Kiley said he heard from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle opposing mid-decade redistricting.
“I don’t like gerrymandering wherever it occurs,” Kiley told KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala. “I will stand up to either party in the interest of serving my constituents.”
Former Sacramento area State Sen. Richard Pan already announced he would run for Kiley’s seat if Prop 50 passes.
When asked to confirm he’s running for the seat regardless of Prop 50, Pan said, “I’m running for this seat in Congress, correct, yes. With Proposition 50, the lines will change and so forth but I’m running because the people of California, of this district, they need representation.”
If Prop 50 passes, Democrats would hold eight percentage points more of this district than Republicans.
David Valadao, District 22
Rep. Valadao has already changed districts in his congressional career due to redistricting. He was first elected to the House of Representatives for California’s District 21 in 2012. In 2022, he was elected for his fifth term in Congress for District 22. His district covers a portion of the Central Valley and includes most of Kings County and parts of Tulare and Kern counties, including the east side of Bakersfield.
He has been opposed to the redistricting effort.
In July, NBC News reported that Valadao provided a critical vote in a tax-cut and spending package that slashed Medicaid and food stamps; a move that ultimately led to some Democratic candidates stepping forward to challenge for his seat.
If Prop 50 passes, Democrats would hold 17 percentage points more of this district than Republicans.
Ken Calvert, District 41
Rep. Calvert is a lifelong resident of Riverside County who was first elected to Congress in 1992, making him one of the most senior members serving in the House of Representatives. Because of his established career, he has seen various redistricting efforts through his tenure in Congress, but has maintained his seat.
His current district stretches across Riverside County, including the famous vacation destination Palm Springs.
Amid his current term, Calvert’s Congressional biography lists some of his priorities as strengthening the economy, supporting the military, and immigration enforcement.
CalMatters reported that several candidates are seeking to challenge Calvert for his long-held seat, including former OneRepublic bassist Tim Myers.
If Prop 50 passes, Democrats would hold 20 percentage points more of this district than Republicans.
Darrell Issa, District 48
Rep. Issa had a less traditional path to Congress, serving in the U.S. Army after high school, then establishing a successful business career, before venturing into politics. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2000, and also saw his share of redistricting. He’s the only representative on this list who is not originally from California.
Issa’s district includes some central and eastern portions of San Diego County and part of Riverside County.
NBC 7 San Diego reported that there are already some Democratic challengers looking to take Issa’s seat if Prop 50 passes—San Diego City Councilwoman Marni von Wilpert and former U.S. Department of Labor official Ammar Campa-Najjar.
If Prop 50 passes, Democrats would hold four percentage points more of this district than Republicans.
| Dig Deeper | See a map below of the districts proposed by Democrats and how the voter make-up would shift.
Learn more about Prop 50 at the links below:
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel