Prop 50 passes; Newsom, leaders react
Jesus Reyes
COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – California voters today approved Proposition 50, the statewide congressional redistricting proposal. By 10 p.m., the proposition had nearly 65% of the vote.
Live Coverage from ABC News:
9:00 p.m.
President Donald Trump reacted to today’s election results with a short post on Truth Social.
Earlier this morning, Trump threatened legal action over mail in ballots cast in California.
Republican Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) commenting on the passage of Prop 50:“California is my home. And it’s worth fighting for.I know how many of my friends and constituents feel about tonight’s election results and the unprecedented purely partisan campaign that pitted neighbor against neighbor and divided the state as never before. It was difficult to watch as Gavin Newsom and Sacramento’s special interests set about shredding the state constitution, disenfranchising millions of Californians solely because of how they vote, and delivering what they know is an undeserved advantage to Democrats.But here’s something Newsom and his cronies don’t know: It won’t work. The worst gerrymander in history has a fatal flaw. Voters get to pick their representatives. Not the other way around.I’m not going anywhere. I’ll continue to represent the people of California — regardless of their party or where they live.I’m not quitting on California. And neither should anyone else.”
Congressman Kevin Kiley, one of the most vocal critics of Gov. Newsom in recent years, issued a statement on Prop 50 passing:
Keep the faith, my friends. We’ll be ok. pic.twitter.com/jc5i6zEsPN
— Kevin Kiley (@KevinKileyCA) November 5, 2025
Democrat Rep. Ami Bera (CA-06) announced he will run against Kiley in the newly drawn Third Congressional District.
8:50 p.m.
Governor Gavin Newsom spoke for the first time since Prop 50 passed:
8:45 p.m.
Local Congressman Ken Calvert, whose district will change with the passing of Prop 50, issued a statement:
“With the passage of Prop 50, Californians were sold a bill of goods, allowing Gavin Newsom and his radical allies in Sacramento an unprecedented power grab to redraw the Congressional map and silence those who disagree with his extreme policies,” said Congressman Ken Calvert. “Gerrymandering districts because you don’t like the results of an election is politics at its absolute worst. Governor Newsom pouring millions into this ballot initiative while crime goes unchecked, housing costs skyrocket, and taxes as well as gas prices remain among the highest in the nation shows he’s more interested in protecting his party’s stranglehold on the state than delivering on the issues families face. Despite the passage of Prop 50, I am determined to keep fighting for the families I represent in Congress.”
In Riverside County, the Yes votes were up by nearly 57% of the ballots after the first batch of results.
8:05 p.m.
Prop 50 is projected to pass, according to multiple outlets, including ABC News.
Riverside County is set to release its first batch of results at approximately 8:20 p.m.
Check Out Proposed Redistricting Maps
California voters have chosen to redraw their state’s congressional map in the middle of the decade and to temporarily sideline the state’s independent redistricting commission, according to ABC News’ projection that California’s Proposition 50 (Prop 50) will pass — which could have major implications for the 2026 midterms.
The proposition being projected to pass gives Democrats their first major win during the ongoing mid-decade redistricting wars across the country. Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed the ballot measure after Texas Republicans, encouraged by President Donald Trump, revised their maps in a rare mid-decade redistricting move that could allow Republicans to gain five seats in 2026.
-ABC News’ Oren Oppenheim
7:00 p.m. Polls close at 8:00 p.m. in California; however, if you are still in line at a voting center, you can still cast your vote.
KEY RACES ACROSS THE COUNTY
Zohran Mamdani will win New York City’s mayoral race, according to multiple outlets.
Democrats are also projected to win two key governors’ races: Abigail Spanberger will flip control from Virginia GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Rep. Mikie Sherrill will defeat Republican nominee and Trump ally, Jack Ciattarelli.
Texas voters approve two constitutional amendments:
US citizenship is required to vote in the state
Parents are the primary decision makers for their children
Maine will pass ballot referendum enacting red flag law; Maine voters rejected a ballot initiative requiring photo ID to vote in person and by mail
BREAKING DOWN PROP 50
CALIFORNIA – Voters will be asked whether to approve the redrawing of California’scongressional district lines in an effort to create more Democratic seats in the House — an effort Gov. Gavin Newsom says will offset a similar move in Texas designed to create more Republican seats.
Proposition 50, dubbed by supporters as “The Election Rigging Response Act,” would establish new congressional district maps for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections. An analysis by the election news website Ballotpedia said it would shift five Republican-held congressional districts toward Democrats.
Check Out Proposed Redistricting Maps
Democrats hold a 43-9 advantage in the state’s House delegation.
Backers of the measure say it “draws fair maps that represent California’s diverse communities and ensure our voices aren’t silenced by Republican gerrymandering in other states.”
Opponents say Proposition 50 “creates one of the most extreme partisan gerrymanders in modern American history” and is a “threat to democracy and fair elections in California,” according to the campaign against the measure.