California's Prop 50 Could Add Democratic Seats

Proposition 50, on California’s Nov. 4 special-election ballot, would temporarily return congressional redistricting power to the Democrat-led state Legislature and could create as many as five Democratic-leaning seats. Supporters, led by Gov. Gavin Newsom and backed by figures including Barack Obama, present it as a response to GOP mid-decade maps and as critical to protecting control of the U.S. House in 2026. Ballots are being mailed and early voting has begun, but state officials warned that recent U.S. Postal Service processing changes could cause some mailed ballots to be postmarked late, advising voters to use drop boxes or vote early in person. Campaigns are aggressively targeting Latino voters with Spanish- and English-language messaging, while opponents — including groups allied with House Republicans — criticize the plan as an unaffordable Sacramento power grab and point to an estimated $280–300 million special-election price tag. The contest has drawn significant national attention and outside funding and its outcome could affect the partisan balance of the narrowly divided U.S. House. Separately, Utah’s GOP-led legislature approved a new congressional map that makes two districts more competitive and is subject to judicial review under the state’s Proposition 4 rules.