California voters will decide on Proposition 50 during the Nov. 4, 2025 special election. The measure was introduced in response to Texas’s mid-decade redistricting efforts that took place back in August.
Background
Texas lawmakers recently approved Trump-backed redistricting legislation that added five Republicans to the U.S. House of Representatives. Similar redistricting discussions have since emerged in Missouri, Ohio, Florida and Indiana, potentially affecting the balance of power in the 2026 midterm election.
What Proposition 50 Proposes
Proposition 50 would temporarily redraw California’s 52 congressional district lines until the next scheduled redistricting cycle in 2030. Supporters argue that the measure is intended to ensure fair representation amid recent similar changes in other states.
Supporters and Opponents
According to CalMatters, billionaire investor Tom Steyer has spent nearly $13 million on the “Yes on Prop 50” campaign. Prominent Democratic figures appearing in support include Gov. Gavin Newsom and former U.S. President Barack Obama.
Opposition to the measure has come from several Republicans, including former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Assembly member Brian Jones and Charles Munger Jr., Chairman of the Santa Clara County Republican Party. Munger Jr. is the largest donor to the “No on Prop 50” campaign, contributing $30 million.
Student Perspectives
Students at Stan State emphasize the importance of voter participation in the special election.
Galilea Avalos (Junior, History) said, “Having the ability to vote gives citizens a voice and an opportunity to change something that will/can be beneficial to our future. It is essential for students to register to vote. We are fortunate to be able to vote, as several other nations under a dictatorship, monarchy do not have the ability to vote.”
Some expressed concern about the broader implications of redrawing district lines.
Jose Zaval (Senior, Communication Studies) said, “I don’t think it’s a fair idea to temporarily redraw these lines. However, since this election is a direct response to what has already happened, I think it’s fair to allow it to happen elsewhere, even though I disagree with gerrymandering. I don’t think gerrymandering should be legal at all.”
Other students view Proposition 50 as a direct response to redistricting efforts in other states.
Katherine Zagone (Senior, Theater Arts) said, “It is a response to the redistricting in certain states that would redistrict so they would skew Republican.”
“The idea of Prop 50,” she explained, “is that it’s skewing the districts in California Democrats so that they compensate for these other states that are restricted to favor Republican political outcomes.”
“It’s a direct response to Texas’s gerrymandering to disenfranchise Democrat and Independent voters,” Zagone added. “I wouldn’t call Prop 50 fair or unfair; I would call it necessary. If you looked at it outside the bubble of what is happening today, it would be unfair.”
How to Vote
Students and residents who are not yet registered can use Same Day Voter Registration available through the California Secretary of State website, which lists locations for in-person registration and voting.
At Stan State, a ballot drop-off location will be available at University Circle from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST on Nov. 3 and Nov. 4, 2025.
