California Republicans are retreating from their campaign to defeat Proposition 50, a Democratic-backed ballot initiative that would redraw the state’s congressional districts, Politico reports.
With just a week before Election Day, the GOP opposition has nearly vanished amid dwindling funds and low morale.
Major donor Charles Munger Jr. has halted new contributions, and his Protect Voters First committee slashed spending from more than $4 million a week to less than $300. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Yes on 50 campaign has outspent opponents by millions, flooding airwaves and online platforms.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s committee, Stop Sacramento’s Power Grab, raised $11 million but has struggled to keep pace. A CBS News poll last week showed 62% of likely voters backing Prop 50.
Strategists now expect the measure to pass easily, with Republicans already blaming mismanagement and poor digital outreach for the collapse.