Democratic voters turned out at “especially high rates” for California’s special statewide election for Proposition 50 in November, an analysis by the Public Policy Institute of California found.

While there was no guarantee the measure — a voter‑approved redistricting overhaul that California leaders pursued to counter mid‑decade Republican map‑drawing in Texas — would pass, its success was partially rooted in the large Democratic voter turnout, the nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank said in a March 3 blog post.

“To the extent that it reflects widespread Democratic enthusiasm, this turnout bodes well for the party in the midterm elections,” the nonprofit said. “But it offers a mixed message about the broader representativeness of the electorate.”

What is Proposition 50?

Proposition 50 authorized temporary changes to the state’s congressional district maps in response to Texas’s partisan redistricting, according to the California Legislature’s Nonpartisan Fiscal and Policy Advisor.

The measure was designed to help Democrats gain five House seats, the Public Policy Institute of California said.

With the passage of the measure, the state will use the new congressional district maps from 2026 through 2030.

California Proposition 50 ranks as the seventh most expensive ballot measure in the state’s history, according to Ballotpedia.

“As of Oct. 13, about $139.9 million had been raised for and against Proposition 50. Supporters received $97.7 million, while opponents received $42.2 million,” Ballotpedia said.

Days after its passage, the Justice Department sued California over the redistricting, arguing the state “violated the Constitution by using race as a factor in redrawing district lines, allegedly favoring Hispanic voters.”

However, a federal court upheld Proposition 50 in January.

What margin did Proposition 50 pass with?

Proposition 50 passed with a wide margin: 64.4% voted yes, and 35.6% voted no, according to NPR reporting.

Who turned out to vote for Proposition 50?

Proposition 50 saw a 50% voter turnout rate, comparable to that seen at a high-engagement midterm, the Public Policy Institute of California said.

Even still, the turnout was “far below turnout in the most recent presidential election,” the nonprofit said.

Compared to 2024, turnout “dropped among every major demographic group,” according to the nonprofit.

For racial/ethnic groups, Asian Americans saw the largest declines in voter turnout compared to 2024, the nonprofit said.

Turnout across age groups varied widely, the nonprofit said.

“Older Californians matched their historical pattern of showing up in lower-profile elections, with greater declines for all voters under 55,” the nonprofit said.

The youngest age group, those 18 to 24, tend to be the least consistent about voting in non-presidential elections; however, the group “maintained their turnout slightly better than those aged 35–44,” the nonprofit said.

The nonprofit said it found no differences in voter turnout between men and women.

The biggest difference in voter turnout, the nonprofit said, was rooted in party registration.

“Turnout among Democrats was much closer to 2024 turnout, while declines among Republicans and other registered voters were greater than the statewide average,” the Public Policy Institute of California said.

These turnout rates equated to the electorate voting on Proposition 50 being “about 3.5 percentage points more Democratic than the electorate in November 2024,” according to the nonprofit.

What can Proposition 50 voter turnout potentially tell us about midterm elections and beyond?

“If the partisan turnout for Prop 50 points to a broader upswing in enthusiasm, the Democrats may start with a leg up this fall,” the nonprofit said.

While the voter turnout among underrepresented voter groups for November’s election “wasn’t especially bad compared to the 2024 election,” it pales in comparison with record-high levels seen in 2020, according to the nonprofit.

“If the goal is a more representative electorate, the 2020 election is the most appropriate standard, and there is still more work to be done,” the Public Policy Institute of California said.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Proposition 50 had high Democratic turnout, nonprofit finds