California passes Prop. 50 redistricting measure in victory for Newsom

A California ballot measure allowing Democrats to enact a friendlier set of congressional lines in the Golden State has passed, delivering Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and his party a major win amid the country's redistricting battle, according to Decision Desk HQ. 

Californians voted to approve Proposition 50 on Tuesday, which allows the state to bypass its independent redistricting commission and pass a new Democratic-friendly House map ahead of 2026, giving the party four or five pickup opportunities next year.

The ballot measure says that the redistricting process would revert to the independent commission after the 2030 U.S. census. 

Polling ahead of Tuesday had indicated that the ballot measure was widely expected to pass. 

Newsom teed up the special election after Texas Republicans passed a new GOP-friendly House map amid pressure from the White House and national Republicans.  

The redistricting battle soon became a national tit for tat with both parties eyeing states where they could quickly redraw their House maps ahead of the 2026 midterms. California represents the first state where Democrats have been able to successfully redistrict midcycle in response to the GOP. 

The special election is a victory for Newsom in particular. The governor took a gamble with Proposition 50, drawing opposition from some notable figures in the state, such as former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), who vowed to campaign against it. The measure's passage could raise Newsom's national profile even more as he positions himself as the Democrats' most prominent opponent of President Trump, and as he eyes a potential run for president in 2028.

Proposition 50's success could also be the swan song for former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who helped engineer its passage and is set to make an announcement about her future as soon as this week.