California state lawmakers who voted to put redistricting measure Proposition 50 on the ballot could be barred from running for office for ten years under a proposed ballot initiative. Secretary of State Shirley Weber confirmed this week the proposal has been cleared to begin collecting petition signatures.The proposal would specifically prohibit the state lawmakers who voted this past summer to place the Democratic-drawn congressional maps on the ballot from running for Congress, statewide and local offices for ten years. They would also not be allowed to be appointed to state office. Republican Assemblyman Carl DeMaio wrote the proposal as Democratic leaders in California ask voters to toss the state’s current U.S. House District map designed by the state’s independent citizen-led redistricting commission and replace it with one that was quickly drawn by Democrats this summer. The map attempts to oust five Republicans from California’s representation in Congress. KCRA 3 reported in August that both of California’s legislative leaders could secure their spots in the U.S. House of Representatives if voters approve Prop 50. Sources said that California Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire had one of the new districts in Northern California drawn specifically for him in exchange for his support of the plan. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas has been considering a run for Rep. Zoe Lofgren’s seat, whose district is largely untouched in the new maps. California voters in 2008 and 2010 took the redistricting power away from politicians and gave it to the citizen-led commission. DeMaio has noted his proposed ballot initiative attempts to apply the same rules around running for office that apply to redistricting commissioners apply to the lawmakers who agreed to put the redistricting measure on the ballot. The measure will need 874,641 signatures from registered voters by April 20, 2026 in order for the issue to be presented to voters across California in the 2026 November 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 channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
California state lawmakers who voted to put redistricting measure Proposition 50 on the ballot could be barred from running for office for ten years under a proposed ballot initiative.
Secretary of State Shirley Weber confirmed this week the proposal has been cleared to begin collecting petition signatures.
The proposal would specifically prohibit the state lawmakers who voted this past summer to place the Democratic-drawn congressional maps on the ballot from running for Congress, statewide and local offices for ten years. They would also not be allowed to be appointed to state office.
Republican Assemblyman Carl DeMaio wrote the proposal as Democratic leaders in California ask voters to toss the state’s current U.S. House District map designed by the state’s independent citizen-led redistricting commission and replace it with one that was quickly drawn by Democrats this summer. The map attempts to oust five Republicans from California’s representation in Congress.
KCRA 3 reported in August that both of California’s legislative leaders could secure their spots in the U.S. House of Representatives if voters approve Prop 50. Sources said that California Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire had one of the new districts in Northern California drawn specifically for him in exchange for his support of the plan. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas has been considering a run for Rep. Zoe Lofgren’s seat, whose district is largely untouched in the new maps.
California voters in 2008 and 2010 took the redistricting power away from politicians and gave it to the citizen-led commission. DeMaio has noted his proposed ballot initiative attempts to apply the same rules around running for office that apply to redistricting commissioners apply to the lawmakers who agreed to put the redistricting measure on the ballot.
The measure will need 874,641 signatures from registered voters by April 20, 2026 in order for the issue to be presented to voters across California in the 2026 November 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 channel