Proposition 50 would gerrymander the state and decimate Republican representation in Congress. What do Democrats running for governor say to California's millions of GOP voters?

A statewide special election in California this fall, in which a redistricting question will be on the ballot, could cost over $280 million. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and California Democrats are putting a ballot question before voters in November,

The cost of putting California’s partisan redistricting ballot measure before voters this fall is expected to run the state $282.6 million, eclipsing the final bill of the last statewide special election.

Even if a person misses that deadline, those eligible can register in person up to and including on Election Day in California. It is called conditional voter registration or same-day registration.

In the most consequential statewide special election since Republicans tried to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021, voters this fall will decide whether to replace the current congressional district maps drawn by an independent redistricting commission with a gerrymandered plan that aims to flip up to five U.

On Nov. 4, California voters will decide whether to redraw political boundaries to create more Democratic seats. The ballot measure aims to counter an effort by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and President Donald Trump to add an equal number of Republican seats in that state.

This measure on the Nov. 4, 2025, California ballot is part of a larger battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year.

Democratic congressional map isn’t yet law. But hopeful candidates are already prepping to run in the new districts.

Next year's governor race took a backseat to GOP opposition to Prop. 50, the ballot measure voters will decide in a November special election that would redraw California's congressional districts, potentially netting Democrats five additional seats and determining control of Congress.

DeMaio runs Reform California, a grassroots organization raising money to get a voter ID initiative on the ballot. If passed, voters would have to show government-issued ID or provide the last four of their social security number or driver’s license number to get a ballot.