California voters on Tuesday approved Proposition 50, giving the state Legislature the power to redraw congressional districts for upcoming elections.
The measure suspends the maps drawn by an independent commission and replaces them with districts redrawn by the Democratic-controlled Legislature. These new maps will be in place for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections.
The recast districts combine diverse regions, including rural, conservative-leaning areas of far northern California with liberal Marin County across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.
Prop 50 was backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who mobilized his political operation to push it forward, and former President Barack Obama also urged its passage.
Despite approval, a 2023 survey found that 92% of California voters prefer district lines be drawn by a nonpartisan commission, though the measure effectively shifts control of redistricting from a nonpartisan body to the state Legislature.
