California Proposition 50: Why It Was Created
Proposition 50, on California’s November 4, 2025 ballot, is a response to aggressive gerrymandering in states like Texas. Earlier this year, former President Donald Trump urged Texas lawmakers to redraw their congressional maps in ways that gave Republicans additional seats by weakening fair voter representation. Other Republican-led states have followed similar strategies at Trump’s direction.
Supporters of Proposition 50 argue that California must act to cancel out these unfair advantages. By allowing the Legislature to adopt new maps for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections, California can ensure that its representation in Congress is not diminished by partisan gerrymanders elsewhere. After the 2030 Census, the independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will regain control of the process.
In short, Proposition 50 is designed to protect fairness. A Yes vote lets California redraw maps now to level the playing field against manipulated maps in red states. A No vote keeps the current commission-drawn maps until after 2030.
Proposition 50 Donors: Supporters vs. Opponents
Supporters have reported about $138.4 million in contributions across committees formed to back the measure. Opponents have reported about $80.4 million. These totals reflect filings updated through October 20, 2025, with additional transaction detail available in Power Search. (California Secretary of State)
The largest pro-Prop 50 donors to Governor Newsom’s primary committee include:
- HMP (House Majority PAC) – $14,990,000. (FPPC)
- Fund for Policy Reform – $10,000,000. (FPPC)
- California Teachers Association Issues PAC – $3,926,983.77. (FPPC)
- California Nurses Association – $3,329,149.93. (FPPC)
- National Education Association – $3,000,000. (FPPC)
- Newsom for California Governor 2022 – $2,600,000. (FPPC)
- Michael Moritz – $2,500,000. (FPPC)
- Consumer Attorneys of California Issues PAC – $2,000,000. (FPPC)
- Gwendolyn Sontheim – $2,000,000. (FPPC)
- Working for Working Americans (Carpenters) – $2,000,000. (FPPC)
A separate pro-Prop 50 committee, Advocacy Action Fund, Inc. (501(c)(4)), lists Wendy Schmidt $500,000 and Eric Schmidt $500,000 as top contributors. (FPPC)
The largest anti-Prop 50 donors include:
- Charles T. Munger, Jr. – $32,790,000 to No on Prop 50 – Protect Voters First. (FPPC)
- Congressional Leadership Fund – $5,000,000 to No on Prop 50 – Stop Sacramento’s Power Grab. (FPPC)
- Kevin McCarthy for Congress – $1,000,000. (FPPC)
- Thomas M. Siebel – $1,000,000. (FPPC)
- Robert A. Kotick – $990,000. (FPPC)
These figures come from the FPPC’s “Top 10 Contributors” lists and the Secretary of State’s Prop 50 contribution totals. Both sources update regularly and may reflect new filings after the dates noted above. (FPPC)