GOP voters in Northern California brace for loss of representation in fight for US House

REDDING, Calif. (AP) — Residents are worried in a part of Northern California known for its farming, ranching and rural lifestyle voting measure Redrawing the U.S. House maps is sure to dilute what little political power they have in the predominantly Democratic state.

If Proposition 50 passes, voters in three northern counties will vote strongly for President Donald Trump In the last three elections, it would share a representative with some of the state’s wealthiest and most liberal coastal communities. Rural voters will be outnumbered, making it unlikely that a Republican candidate will prevail.

“Most of us see this as, you know, a massive gerrymandering that took away what little representation we had and now we have absolutely nothing,” Patrick Jones, the former Shasta County supervisor, said in a recent interview at his family’s gun store.

Voting ended Nov. 4 on the measure that would create partisan U.S. House maps outside of the normal redistricting done every decade by an independent commission. This is Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s effort. Opposing a Trump-backed plan in Texas To win five more Republican seats. He says it’s necessary to defend democracy, but California Republicans call it a power grab that will disenfranchise voters. Republicans currently hold nine of the state’s 52 congressional seats.

In Redding, one of the largest cities north of Sacramento, there are bright yellow signs along the highway urging residents to defend fair elections and rural representation. A local man recently led a one-man protest in front of City Hall, while more than 150 others attended a rally to reject what they see as a plan by Democrats to silence their voices.

But they face an uphill battle in the state where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly 2 to 1. Almost twice as many Democrats voted. Labor unions and other Democratic allies have mobilized hundreds of volunteers to reach voters in deep blue counties like Los Angeles, where there are millions of voters. About 7,000 ballots were returned in Shasta County two weeks before Election Day, county clerk Clint Curtis said. He expects turnout to be lower than normal.

TV ads opposing the measure, a major investment in the sprawling state largely dried out. Some residents of Redding say they have heard little from Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa about his plan to oppose the measure, but he is planning an event Wednesday in another city in his district.

Rural strongholds prepare for political change

Under the new maps, voters in Shasta, Siskiyou and Modoc counties, all rural northern conservative strongholds, would be in the same congressional district as Marin County, which sits just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.

The current area of ​​LaMalfa includes farms growing rice, olives, and other tree nuts, and farming is common in the farthest northern reaches. Lassen National Volcanic Park, the historic Shasta Dam, and snow-capped Mount Shasta are defining features. Redding’s population is under 100,000. distrust of the government and belief in election conspiracies It is common. In 2024, 67% of voters in Shasta County supported Trump.

Marin County, meanwhile, gave Democrat Kamala Harris 80 percent of the vote. Median household income exceeds $140,000; That’s roughly twice the income in Shasta County. It is part of a region that stretches from the North Pacific coastline to Oregon and is known for its redwood forests, wine production, and hemp farms. He is represented by Democratic Representative Jared Huffman.

Rice farmer LaMalfa opposes the proposal and has spent at least $63,000 of his campaign funds to reach voters through text messages and yard signs. He also gave $50,000. A statewide “no” campaign. Brenda Haynes, who works in the LaMalfa district office, said the congressman joined residents waving flags on highway overpasses. His campaign declined a request for a reporter to follow him.

“I think he made phone calls and stuff, but I didn’t hear much from him,” said Toby Ruiz, a retired government employee who has lived in the area most of his life.

LaMalfa’s supporters say they appreciate his conservative stance and are pushing for a major new water storage project.

“I love this guy,” said Bob Braz, a Redding-area native who owns a bait shop. “I stand behind almost everything he does.”

Those who didn’t know much about LaMalfa’s record said they trusted him because of his past.

“I don’t hear much about him, but he’s a farmer,” said Liz Jacobs, who moved to Redding from the Bay Area 20 years ago. He added: “I don’t know anyone from the Bay Area with progressive ideas.”

Newsom and other Democrats say the measure is a tool to combat Trump’s agenda and counter Republican efforts to win seats elsewhere. Even if the bill passes and Democrats gain five more seats, it may not help the party stay in the House. Republicans Missouri, North Carolina And indiana They join Texas in winning more winnable seats in the 2026 midterms. MPs VirginiaMeanwhile, we are in session again to work on a map that is more favorable to the Democrats. Any efforts are certain to face legal challenges.

“This is not the fight we wanted to fight. This was not our fight,” Newsom said at a recent virtual campaign event. “This is a response to something unprecedented.”

But voters in Redding see this as another way to silence their voices.

They feel they have long been neglected by the Democrat-controlled Legislature in Sacramento, which they accuse of driving up the cost of living and encroaching on local control. For example, MPs Hand counting of votes in districts is prohibited In most cases, after Shasta County leaders voted to get rid of ballot counting machines in 2023.

Some said they were concerned national Republicans wouldn’t fight to keep the seats if the legislation passed.

“You have to spend a lot of money to get to your base,” said Jones, the former county supervisor. “And they won’t want to waste that much money because that money would be better spent somewhere else across the country.”

Voters are divided

Not all voters are afraid of a change.

Warren Swanson, a Redding resident of more than 40 years, called LaMalfa “Do Nothing Doug.” His wife, Tara Swanson, also voted “yes” on the measure, in part because it promised to return map-drawing authority to the independent commission after the 2030 Census.

Tara Swanson said, “Do two wrongs make a right? It’s a difficult situation for those of us who think along these lines.”

Some liberal voters in Mount Shasta in Siskiyou County are hoping to unseat LaMalfa because of his vote. Trump’s comprehensive tax and spending bill this would overhaul health care and food assistance programs. Urban mothers, families and older adults may go hungry Changes to food aid programs, said Mt. Mt., who works with the state food assistance program. Shasta resident Colleen Shelly.

But Walter Stephen Rubke, 38, who moved to Redding last year, said the fight is far from over for Republican voters in California. A lot youth He said he supports conservatives and expects continued resistance from GOP voters even if the measure passes.

“I see a difficult road ahead,” he said. “But I feel confident. I feel hopeful.”