The U.S. Capitol building in Washington. (File photo courtesy of the National Park Service)
When we cut through all the noise coming at us during this special election campaign season, California voters should rationally conclude a “yes” vote on Proposition 50 is in their interest.
We aren’t in normal times, this isn’t a normal question, and it didn’t get put on the ballot lightly. Rather, extraordinary threats have been specifically directed at California by the Trump Administration: denying disaster aid to fire victims, ordering mass arrests without warrants, and imposing tariffs that raise our cost of living and reduce activity at our ports.
I’ve had a front-row seat in the Legislature to managing response scenarios to the federal government’s withholding of your healthcare, education, and housing dollars. So long as unchecked power is allowed, this pattern would continue to unnecessarily harm California taxpayers and communities for another exhausting three years.
Congress is meant to be that check and balance to a President’s abuse of power. On behalf of the people, Congress appropriates the budget, provides oversight, and holds actions accountable. The current House of Representatives majority is lacking any courage to do their job, and with Democrats poised to pick up seats in the 2026 midterm election, hope is on the horizon.
Yet, President Trump has taken unprecedented steps to rig the system to make it harder for a fair election outcome in Congress no matter how Americans vote. His requests to legislatures in Texas, Missouri, Kansas, and other states are having unprecedented mid-decade changes in congressional maps, without those states’ voters even having a say, to predetermine an outcome that will keep his power consolidated. Beyond serving his own self-interests, that will mean continued unchecked free reign for President Trump to keep up his unpopular and harmful policies.
California voters have a powerful response on their ballot: Proposition 50 will make sure that, since President Trump is stealing five seats away from Black and Brown elected officials in other states, California can create five seats to counterbalance that for the national control of Congress. The good points for the temporary maps presented to you at the special election are many:
All of the principles and some of the exact same map alternatives drawn by the 2021 Citizens Redistricting Commission are incorporated.
Rather than outright gerrymandering employed by the other states, the Voting Rights Act, connecting communities of interest and enhancing minority voting power, is preserved.
The proposed maps actually split fewer cities and counties than the current maps.
The independent commission will resume its work drawing the next decade’s maps after the 2030 census when all states will do so.
Even redistricting commissioners who drew the existing maps see the current necessity and are endorsing Proposition 50.
Some may not like that this is political. But it is. You’ve probably heard the adage “You may not care about politics, but politics care about you.” More aptly, Plato said, ”One of the penalties of refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”
Fairness in our elections means an equal system to get your representatives elected and have your power represented in Washington. We didn’t start this fight, but California can stand up and neutralize the threat. The power resides in you the voter to have the actual say, not President Trump or legislators from other states.
Level the playing field to hold them accountable and safeguard support for California’s interests. And do so right away when you get your ballot at your mailbox this month. Vote “yes” on Proposition 50.
Assemblymember Chris Ward, a San Diego Democrat, represents the 78th Assembly District and has served as assistant majority leader in the Assembly.
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