Why Common-Sense Voters Are Voting NO on Proposition 50

In the 13th century, Thomas Aquinas warned that withholding the truth can be as deceitful as an outright lie — a principle we summarize today as, “A lie by omission is still a lie.”

And that’s exactly what California’s political establishment is doing with Proposition 50, lying.

The Truth About Proposition 50

Despite the media blitz from Governor Newsom and his supermajority legislature, critical facts about Proposition 50 are being deliberately left out. California voters already approved an independent redistricting commission in 2008 to stop POLITICIANS from drawing their own districts for partisan advantage. Current law also bars commissioners involved in redistricting from running for affected offices for ten years — a safeguard designed to protect fairness and integrity.

Proposition 50 dismantles that safeguard. Backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), the measure would allow current legislators to essentially draw new maps that benefit them for the next 3 elections; while remaining eligible to run for seats affected by those changes. It hands control back to party insiders and paid consultants, allowing them to shape districts to their own advantage for at least six years — three election cycles — enough to further lock in partisan dominance.

Rigged Maps = Rigged Outcomes

What did taxpayers get for the $108,333.33 paid to the DCCC’s “Redistricting Partners”? According to the Princeton Gerrymandering Project, Governor Newsom’s proposed maps earned an “F,” ranking among the most manipulated in six decades. The plan splits counties like San Joaquin into five districts and lumps Merced into Stockton to dilute rural and Second Amendment voices.

Today, Democrats hold 43 of California’s 52 congressional seats; Republicans hold nine. Proposition 50 would slice those few Republican districts even further, reducing conservative representation to just three seats (6%) — despite Republicans making up over 25% of registered voters.

Misleading Comparisons and Misleading Ballots

Newsom justifies Prop 50 by pointing to Texas, claiming Prop 50 is needed to counter Republican gerrymandering there. But he omits key facts: the Texas maps were struck down by the courts in 2021 for racial bias, and Texas’ redistricting process is constitutionally distinct from California in that Texas legislators (not an independent voter commission) are allowed to redraw their maps mid-decade.

California’s Constitution is unambiguous: only an independent citizens’ commission can redraw districts after each ten-year census. Proposition 50 suspends that constitutional mandate, letting politicians pick their voters instead of voters picking their representatives. The plan is to limit a 25% voter base to just 6% of seats.  This is not representative government — it’s a partisan takeover.

Misleading Voters

The ballot language itself is deceptive. It claims Prop 50 “retains” the independent commission, when in fact it replaces it with a DCCC consultant. To make matters worse, over 8.5 million voter guides were mailed with false information; and in some counties, ballot envelopes can reveal how “No on 50” votes were marked — compromising ballot secrecy.

The Bottom Line

Proposition 50 is a $282 million partisan power grab disguised as reform. It overturns the will of 5.7 million Californians who created the independent redistricting commission to ensure fair elections.

Vote NO on Proposition 50 —

Protect your voice.

Protect your vote.

Protect the California Constitution.

-- Dolly Wright, RPMC Caucus Chair, Supervisorial District 2