California voters will soon decide the fate of Proposition 50, a measure that would further embroil the state in the midst of a bitter conflict for control of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Nov. 4 special election essentially has one question for voters: Should California’s lawmakers have the power to redraw the state’s congressional lines for the next three elections?The proposition also includes language that calls for nonpartisan redistricting nationwide, but that part of the measure does not require any particular action. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other top Democratic leaders pushed for this proposal in response to President Donald Trump’s urging Texas to redraw its lines to send more Republicans to the lower house of Congress.However, Texas lawmakers had a relatively easier process in approving redrawn lines. That is not the case for California, as voters in 2008 and 2010 approved a citizen-led independent commission that handles redistricting after every U.S. census. Amendments to California’s constitution must be approved by voters. Prop 50, also known as “The Election Rigging Response Act,” would ask voters to approve Democratic-drawn maps that target five districts now controlled by California Republicans to offset the five Texas Democrats targeted in the Lone Star State’s new maps. The maps under Prop 50 would be for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections.It is worth noting that Trump’s second term ends after 2028.But what are the arguments for and against Prop 50? Arguments in favor of Prop 50According to a voter guide from the California Secretary of State’s Office, supporter arguments include that Prop 50 would “counter Donald Trump’s scheme to rig next year’s congressional election and reaffirm California’s commitment to independent, nonpartisan redistricting after the next census.”Newsom has been among the most prominent supporters of the measure, threatening in the past that California would only move forward with its redistricting plans if Texas continued on with theirs. He and other Democratic leaders feel it’s necessary to “fight fire with fire,” arguing that “there may not be an election in 2028.”Other arguments and claims made in favor of Prop 50 that are included in the voter guide:It levels the playing fieldCommits to fair redistrictingGive voters the powerIt is fair and proportionalIt is temporaryProminent figures and organizers in support include former President Barack Obama, U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, members of the independent redistricting commission, Planned Parenthood and the NAACP. Arguments against Prop 50The argument against Prop 50 provided by the Secretary of State’s Office states that “Prop. 50 was written by politicians, for politicians—dismantling safeguards that keep elections fair, removes requirements to keep local communities together, and eliminates voter protections that ban maps designed to favor political parties.”Prominent opponents include former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, millionaire Charles Munger Jr. and members of the independent redistricting commission. Hilton and Bianco are Republican candidates for California governor. U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley, who is one of the five targeted Republicans, has been vocal against a mid-decade census regardless of political parties. He has pushed for federal legislation that would invalidate mid-decade redistricting in all states.Further arguments against Prop 50 state that the redistricting measure “is not a magic pill to cure the nation’s ills.” Redrawing congressional lines to favor a specific political party is known as gerrymandering, a once-taboo term to admit to that is now being embraced without shame from both parties.Other arguments and claims made against Prop 50 that are included in the voter guide:Previously safe seats now must be earned offers better representation It repeals voter-approved election reformsA scheme to permanently end independent redistricting Estimated one-time costs for counties, according to the state’s voter guide, are “up to a few million dollars statewide to update election materials to reflect new congressional district maps.”The special election itself is expected to cost $282.6 million in taxpayer funds, according to the California Department of Finance. That figure may increase after the Secretary of State said 8 million voting households received inaccurate voter guides. Learn more from our previous coverage of Prop 50 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 votersEverything to know about Prop 50Who are the 5 California Republicans who could lose their congressional seat if Prop 50 passes? Get the Facts: Why do mail-in ballot envelopes have holes for Prop 50 special election? 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 channelKCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in depth coverage of California redistricting efforts and other top policy issues on “California Politics 360.” Get informed with the latest updates about Prop 50 and more topics before Election Day on Sundays at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3. PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

California voters will soon decide the fate of Proposition 50, a measure that would further embroil the state in the midst of a bitter conflict for control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Nov. 4 special election essentially has one question for voters: Should California’s lawmakers have the power to redraw the state’s congressional lines for the next three elections?

The proposition also includes language that calls for nonpartisan redistricting nationwide, but that part of the measure does not require any particular action.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other top Democratic leaders pushed for this proposal in response to President Donald Trump’s urging Texas to redraw its lines to send more Republicans to the lower house of Congress.

However, Texas lawmakers had a relatively easier process in approving redrawn lines. That is not the case for California, as voters in 2008 and 2010 approved a citizen-led independent commission that handles redistricting after every U.S. census. Amendments to California’s constitution must be approved by voters.

Prop 50, also known as “The Election Rigging Response Act,” would ask voters to approve Democratic-drawn maps that target five districts now controlled by California Republicans to offset the five Texas Democrats targeted in the Lone Star State’s new maps. The maps under Prop 50 would be for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections.

It is worth noting that Trump’s second term ends after 2028.

But what are the arguments for and against Prop 50?

Arguments in favor of Prop 50

According to a voter guide from the California Secretary of State’s Office, supporter arguments include that Prop 50 would “counter Donald Trump’s scheme to rig next year’s congressional election and reaffirm California’s commitment to independent, nonpartisan redistricting after the next census.”

Newsom has been among the most prominent supporters of the measure, threatening in the past that California would only move forward with its redistricting plans if Texas continued on with theirs. He and other Democratic leaders feel it’s necessary to “fight fire with fire,” arguing that “there may not be an election in 2028.”

Other arguments and claims made in favor of Prop 50 that are included in the voter guide:

It levels the playing fieldCommits to fair redistrictingGive voters the powerIt is fair and proportionalIt is temporary

Prominent figures and organizers in support include former President Barack Obama, U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, members of the independent redistricting commission, Planned Parenthood and the NAACP.

Arguments against Prop 50

The argument against Prop 50 provided by the Secretary of State’s Office states that “Prop. 50 was written by politicians, for politicians—dismantling safeguards that keep elections fair, removes requirements to keep local communities together, and eliminates voter protections that ban maps designed to favor political parties.”

Prominent opponents include former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, millionaire Charles Munger Jr. and members of the independent redistricting commission. Hilton and Bianco are Republican candidates for California governor.

U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley, who is one of the five targeted Republicans, has been vocal against a mid-decade census regardless of political parties. He has pushed for federal legislation that would invalidate mid-decade redistricting in all states.

Further arguments against Prop 50 state that the redistricting measure “is not a magic pill to cure the nation’s ills.” Redrawing congressional lines to favor a specific political party is known as gerrymandering, a once-taboo term to admit to that is now being embraced without shame from both parties.

Other arguments and claims made against Prop 50 that are included in the voter guide:

Previously safe seats now must be earned[The independent commission] offers better representation It repeals voter-approved election reformsA scheme to permanently end independent redistricting

Estimated one-time costs for counties, according to the state’s voter guide, are “up to a few million dollars statewide to update election materials to reflect new congressional district maps.”

The special election itself is expected to cost $282.6 million in taxpayer funds, according to the California Department of Finance. That figure may increase after the Secretary of State said 8 million voting households received inaccurate voter guides.

Learn more from our previous coverage of Prop 50 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

KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in depth coverage of California redistricting efforts and other top policy issues on “California Politics 360.” Get informed with the latest updates about Prop 50 and more topics before Election Day on Sundays at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.