California’s Prop 50 still currently stands even after Texas ruling

Even after a panel of federal judges ruled on Tuesday that Texas cannot use new mid-census congressional maps intended to favor Republicans, California’s counter-plan still stands barring any future court rulings.Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democratic leaders earlier this year announced Proposition 50 as a way to offset Texas’ plans to try to send five more Republicans to Congress. The voter-approved measure redrew California’s district maps to try to send five more Democrats to the Lower House.When Prop 50 was initially introduced, there was language in the measure that stated California would only move forward with its redistricting — also known as gerrymandering — efforts if Texas proceeded with its plans. That language was removed from the measure before it reached Newsom’s desk for him to sign into law.When asked to clarify if California would move forward with Prop 50 even if the courts strike down Texas’ gerrymandering efforts, Newsom provided the following response during an Aug. 21 news conference:”We’re moving forward. Texas moved forward. Texas acted. Texas is moving forward. You’re suggesting — people are suggesting — Texas is not going to move forward because of what we just did? Come on,” Newsom said.The national redistricting battle ignited when President Donald Trump asked Texas this summer to find a way for the GOP to maintain its majority in the U.S. House of Representatives as the 2026 elections near. Midterm elections are typically when the president’s political party may lose seats, which could result in losing decisive majority power.Multiple other states are either seeking to advance their own redistricting efforts or are at least considering doing so. The 2-1 decision would lead to a setback for Republican efforts in maintaining power, if it’s not reversed on appeal.”The public perception of this case is that it’s about politics. To be sure, politics played a role in drawing the 2025 Map. But it was much more than just politics. Substantial evidence shows that Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 Map,” the ruling states.California’s Prop 50 is also facing its own legal troubles, with both the state GOP and the U.S. Department of Justice accusing Prop 50’s maps of being drawn to give Latino and Hispanic voters more power. The first court date for Prop 50 is set for Dec. 3.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-The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Even after a panel of federal judges ruled on Tuesday that Texas cannot use new mid-census congressional maps intended to favor Republicans, California’s counter-plan still stands barring any future court rulings.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democratic leaders earlier this year announced Proposition 50 as a way to offset Texas’ plans to try to send five more Republicans to Congress. The voter-approved measure redrew California’s district maps to try to send five more Democrats to the Lower House.

When Prop 50 was initially introduced, there was language in the measure that stated California would only move forward with its redistricting — also known as gerrymandering — efforts if Texas proceeded with its plans. That language was removed from the measure before it reached Newsom’s desk for him to sign into law.

When asked to clarify if California would move forward with Prop 50 even if the courts strike down Texas’ gerrymandering efforts, Newsom provided the following response during an Aug. 21 news conference:

“We’re moving forward. Texas moved forward. Texas acted. Texas is moving forward. You’re suggesting — people are suggesting — Texas is not going to move forward because of what we just did? Come on,” Newsom said.

The national redistricting battle ignited when President Donald Trump asked Texas this summer to find a way for the GOP to maintain its majority in the U.S. House of Representatives as the 2026 elections near. Midterm elections are typically when the president’s political party may lose seats, which could result in losing decisive majority power.

Multiple other states are either seeking to advance their own redistricting efforts or are at least considering doing so. The 2-1 decision would lead to a setback for Republican efforts in maintaining power, if it’s not reversed on appeal.

“The public perception of this case is that it’s about politics. To be sure, politics played a role in drawing the 2025 Map. But it was much more than just politics. Substantial evidence shows that Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 Map,” the ruling states.

California’s Prop 50 is also facing its own legal troubles, with both the state GOP and the U.S. Department of Justice accusing Prop 50’s maps of being drawn to give Latino and Hispanic voters more power. The first court date for Prop 50 is set for Dec. 3.

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

-The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.