California voters overwhelmingly approved Prop. 50 on Tuesday night, setting up two high-profile Republicans to potentially run against each other for Congress in Orange County.

It also means Huntington Beach – a MAGA stronghold – will be represented by Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach), an outspoken progressive who’s said he’ll help get Democrats elected to local governing bodies. 

[Read: How Could California’s Congressional Redistricting Effort Impact Orange County?]

People celebrate as results show for the Special Election on Nov. 4, 2025. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC

The new map puts Congressman Ken Calvert (R-Corona) and Congresswoman Young Kim (R-Anaheim) in Congressional District 40, encompassing part of Orange County –  including Anaheim Hills, Rancho Santa Margarita, Mission Viejo and parts of Corona as well as Lake Elsinore and Murrieta. 

Calvert declined to comment on any potential run against Kim on election night, with a spokesperson saying he’d speak to the issue on Wednesday. 

However, Calvert said California voters were “sold a bill of goods” in a statement on Tuesday night. 

“Gerrymandering districts because you don’t like the results of an election is politics at its absolute worst,” Calvert wrote. “Despite the passage of Prop 50, I am determined to keep fighting for the families I represent in Congress.”

Kim’s office did not respond to requests for comment on Election Night.

Opponents of Proposition 50 rally at the Huntington Beach Pier on Nov. 1, 2025. Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC

Will O’Neill, chair of the Orange County Republican Party, said they will hang onto the 40th District. 

“We will win locally, we will retain Congressional District 40, we will vigorously contest the seats Democrats think are safe, and we will work on building our coalition,” O’Neill said in a Tuesday statement. “As Newsom turns his eyes toward D.C., Orange County will remind the 49 other states that the emperor has no clothes.” 

Jodi Balma, a Political Science professor at Fullerton College, said the district will become safer for Republicans, but Kim may have to face off with Calvert.

“The game of musical chairs will begin and does Ken Calvert, does Darryl Issa challenge Young Kim? Because whoever wins that particular district with a huge Republican advantage has a really easy time in 2028 and 2030 being reelected to that seat,” she said.

Florice Hoffman, chairwoman of the Orange County Democratic Party, said even with the advantage it’s not a guarantee a Republican will win the seat in the 40th District.

“If I was Young Kim, I would not rest assured that she’s going to win even in a more Republican district, because people are mad about health care and the loss of SNAP benefits,” she said.

[Read: Orange County Grapples With Loss of Food and Housing Benefits as Shutdown Drags On]

People celebrate as election results show for the Special Election on Nov. 4, 2025. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC

Prop. 50 created a new congressional district map designed to give Democrats an advantage to win five more of the state’s 52 congressional seats in the 2026 election. 

Republicans currently hold nine of California’s Congressional seats – but that could be reduced to four in next year’s midterm elections. 

The old congressional maps in California were drawn up by an independent state commission made up of a mix of Democrats, Republicans and members registered with neither political party, which is still set to draw the next round of maps in 2030. 

To view an interactive version of the Prop. 50 map, click here.

The election was over quickly, with the Associated Press calling the race just minutes after the first round of ballot tallies were released shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday night. 

By 10:30 p.m., over 64% of California voters were in favor of Prop. 50 while nearly 36% were against the measure – a difference of a little over 2 million votes.

About 56% of Orange County voters were for the redistricting effort, while just over 44% were against – a difference of roughly 76,000 votes as of 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night, according to the OC Registrar of Voters.

A man places an “I Voted” sticker on his jacket at a Huntington Beach vote center on Nov. 4, 2025. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC

Nearly one-third of Orange County’s registered voters had cast ballots by the end of election night, according to the OC Registrar of Voters. 

Chapman University professor and local political expert Mike Moodian said the turnout was high for an off-year special election, which could indicate a number of frustrations. 

“I see this as a reflection of frustration with the government shutdown which is still continuing. There’s not an end in sight,” Moodian said. “I think the fear was it would be a low turnout election and anything can happen, but the campaign was successful it seems.”

[Read: Which Way Will OC Swing on California’s Congressional Redistricting Election?]

Surf City USA To Get a New Congressman

People walk in front of the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach, California, on May 4, 2025. Credit: ALLIE LEICHTER, Voice of OC.

Huntington Beach, one of the largest MAGA Republican strongholds in California, will now be a part of a Congressional district that stretches up into Long Beach and features a larger number of Democrats.

Their new Congressman Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach) is an outspoken progressive who’s repeatedly said he plans to help flip local city councils to the Democratic Party. 

Garcia celebrated Prop 50 at the No Kings Protest in Santa Ana last month, saying his goal was to help Democrats get elected to every city council and school board seat. 

“I’m taking on more Republicans than any Democrat in the state of California,” Garcia said. “When they asked me ‘are you willing to do it?’ I said absolutely. Bring it the fuck on.”

Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at helattar@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @ElattarHosam.

Noah Biesiada is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at nbiesiada@voiceofoc.org.

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