Proponents of Nov. 4 redistricting ballot measure vastly outraise opponents
Supporters of California Democrats’ Proposition 50, which aims to redraw the state’s congressional districts to aid the party’s efforts to seize power in the U.S. House of Representatives, have raised more than four times as much money as their opponents in recent weeks, according to campaign finance reports filed with the state by the three main committees campaigning on the proposal.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s committee supporting the redistricting measure raised $36.8 million between Sept. 21 and Oct. 18, bringing its total to $114.3 million, according to the report filed with the State Department on Thursday and not available until Monday. They had $37.1 million in the bank and were able to spend it before the Nov. 4 special election.
“We met our budget goals and raised what we needed to pass Proposition 50,” Newsom emailed supporters Monday. “You can stop donating.”
The two main opposition groups raised a total of $8.4 million over the 28 days covered by the fundraising period, bringing their total revenue to $43.7 million. They had $2.3 million in cash on hand heading into the final phase of the campaign.
“As Gavin Newsom likes to say, we’re not doing a 90-yard dash here. We’ve had great support from Californians who understand what’s at stake if we let it.” [President] “Trump stole another two years of unchecked power,” said Hannah Milgrom, spokeswoman for the main pro-Proposition 50 campaign. “But we’re not taking things for granted and we’re not taking our foot off the gas. If we want to hold this dangerous and reckless president accountable, we must pass Proposition 50.”
Newsom and other California Democrats decided to ask voters to redraw the state’s congressional boundaries, which are currently drawn by an independent, voter-approved commission, in mid-decade redistricting after Trump called on GOP-led states to redraw their districts so Republicans maintain control of Congress in next year’s midterm elections.
The balance of power in the narrowly divided House will determine whether Trump can continue to implement his agenda during the final two years of his term or become the focus of investigations and possibly an impeachment effort.
Major donors backing Proposition 50 include billionaire financier George Soros, the House Majority PAC, the campaign arm of congressional Democrats, and labor unions.
Opponents of Proposition 50 include GOP donor Charles Munger Jr., the son of billionaire Warren Buffett’s longtime investment partner. and the Congressional Leadership Fund, the Republicans’ political arm in the House, were among the top contributors.
“As our spending continues, we continue to communicate with Californians about the dangers of suspending California’s gold standard redistricting process,” said Amy Thoma, a spokeswoman for the Munger-funded committee. “We invite all voters to make their voices heard and vote with 10 days left until the end.”
Ellie Hockenbury, an adviser to the committee that received $5 million from the Congressional Leadership Fund, said the organization is committed to continuing to raise money to thwart Newsom’s redistricting efforts in the days leading up to the election.
“His costly power grab will silence millions of Californians and deny them fair representation in Congress, so grassroots opposition is gaining momentum,” Hockenbury said. “In the final phase, our data-driven campaign strategically targets key voters with our message to ensure every resource is available to help us defeat Proposition 50.”
There are other committees not affiliated with these main campaign groups that receive funding. These include those created by billionaire hedge fund founder Tom Steyer, who donated $12 million, and the California Republican Party, which received $8 million from the Congressional Leadership Fund.
These reports come a little more than a week before the Nov. 4 special election. As of Friday, more than 4 million mail ballots — 18% of ballots sent to California’s 23 million voters — had been returned, according to a vote tracker run by Paul Mitchell, the Democratic redistricting expert who drew the ballot’s proposed maps. Democrats continue to outpace Republicans in returned ballots, 51% to 28%. Voters with no party preference or registered with other political parties returned 21% of the votes received.
Turnout numbers worry Republican leaders.
“If Republicans don’t go out and vote now, we will lose Proposition 50 and Gavin Newsom will control our district lines until 2032,” Orange County GOP chairman Will O’Neill said in a letter to party members Friday, urging them to vote last weekend and sharing the locations of early voting centers in the county.
Assemblyman Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego) was more outspoken on social media.
“We are currently losing the fight against Prop 50 in CA, but turnout is LOW,” he posted on social media platform X on Friday. “If every Republican voter gets off their butts, returns their ballot, and votes NO, WE WILL WIN. THIS. THIS. IT. SIMPLE.”
More than 18.9 million ballots are pending, although not all of them have been completed. Early voting centers opened in 29 counties in California on Saturday.
“Think of Election Day as the last day to vote—not just one day. As we always do, California is giving voters more days and more ways to participate.” Secretary of State Shirley Weber said in a statement. “Don’t delay! Vote today!”
The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday that it plans to monitor polling places in Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties at the request of the state GOP.
“Transparency at the polls means trust in the election process, and this Department of Justice is committed to maintaining the highest standards of election integrity,” said Atty. General Pam Bondi said. “We will devote the necessary resources to ensure the American people get the fair, free and transparent elections they deserve.”
The Trump administration sent election observers to polling stations in California as part of a campaign, Newsom said in a post on X on Friday. a broader effort to suppress votesespecially among Californians ahead of next year’s midterm elections.
“This is about voter suppression. This is about voter suppression,” Newsom said, predicting that masked border agents could be present at polling places in California throughout the Nov. 4 election. “I hope people understand that what they are trying to scaffold all over this country in the next November election is a bridge, they do not believe in fair and free elections. Our republic, our democracy is in danger.”
