Voters in eight California counties carried by Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election backed Proposition 50, the Democrat-backed ballot measure in a state-by-state redistricting battle helping determine who controls the U.S. House in 2026, election data shows.

Proposition 50 passed statewide with nearly 65 percent support, paving the way for Democrats to potentially gain up to five additional U.S. House seats. The measure’s passage could help offset expected Republican gains in Texas, where new congressional maps drawn earlier this year are projected to favor the GOP ahead of the 2026 midterms.

California Governor Gavin Newsom hailed Prop 50 as a crucial step to “fight back against President Trump’s agenda,” framing the measure as part of a broader Democratic strategy to counter Trump-backed redistricting efforts across the country.

President Trump has championed redrawing congressional maps in Republican-led states such as Texas, but did not publicly comment on the merits of California’s Prop 50. On Tuesday, Trump said the use of mail-in ballots in the vote “is under very serious legal and criminal review, without providing any more detail.

Newsweek contacted Governor Newsom’s office and the White House for comment via email on Wednesday

Why It Matters

Support for Prop 50 in several Trump-won counties highlights complexities in voter attitudes especially in competitive regions of California, and underscore a nuanced political landscape.

The overall result represents a crucial win for Democrats ahead of the Midterms that will help determine which party wins control of the U.S. House in 2026 and, with it, the power to thwart or advance Trump’s agenda.

It could also act as a shot in the arm for Governor Newsom who last month confirmed to CBS News that he is considering running for president in 2028 and will decide after the Midterms.

With Republicans holding a 219—213 House majority, even modest shifts in district lines could prove decisive in 2026.

More broadly, the interstate redistricting battle has also reignited debate over partisan vs. independent map-drawing.

What To Know

Proposition 50 authorizes the Democratic-controlled California Legislature to redraw congressional maps for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections—temporarily suspending an independent commission that had been in place since 2010.

This measure was part of a broad effort by state Democrats to counteract redistricting moves in Republican-led states, specifically those encouraged by President Trump in Texas, where five GOP-leaning seats were added at his request.

Election results showed voters in eight Californian counties that backed Trump in 2024 supported Proposition 50: Fresno (where Trump beat Harris by a 4.38% margin), Merced (4.36%), Inyo (2.98%), San Bernardino (2.14%), Lake (1.37%), Riverside (1.26%), San Joaquin (0.89%), and Imperial (0.86%).

On Prop 50, the largest “yes” margin among them was in Imperial County at 20.2 percent. San Bernardino and Riverside also recorded “yes” victories by 16.4 perecent and 13.8 percent respectively.

The other margins of victory were: 9.6 percent in San Joaquin (9.6), 6.2 percent Lake (6.2), 4.4 percent in Merced (4.4), 1.2 percent in Inyo (1.2) and just 0.2 percent in Fresno—where the difference was only 154 votes.

The results, shown in the map below, are scheduled to be certified on December 12.

How Californian Counties Voted on Prop 50

Loading generic content…

Among counties carried by Kamala Harris in 2024, the largest faction against Prop 50 came in Nevada County, with 45.9 percent voting “no”—also the narrowest win, with an 8.2 percent margin.

The campaign for Prop 50 became one of the most expensive in California history, with over $193 million in donations and more than $100 million devoted to broadcast and cable ads.

Prop 50 supporters, led by Democratic Governor Newsom, framed the law as a necessary counter to Republican moves elsewhere. Critics, including independent reform advocates, warned it could undermine nonpartisan reform efforts.

What People Are Saying

California Governor Gavin Newsom said on Tuesday: “We stood tall and we stood firm in response to Donald Trump’s recklessness.”

President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday: “The Unconstitutional Redistricting Vote in California is a GIANT SCAM in that the entire process, in particular the Voting itself, is RIGGED. All “Mail-In” Ballots, where the Republicans in that State are “Shut Out,” is under very serious legal and criminal review. STAY TUNED!” He did not provide any evidence.

Former President Barack Obama urged voters to pass Prop 50 in a televised campaign ad, saying: “Republicans want to steal enough seats in Congress to rig the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years.”

What Happens Next

The California secretary of state is scheduled to certify the results by December 12, 2025, after which the new congressional district maps will take effect for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 U.S. House elections. The independent redistricting commission will resume duties after 2030.