California voters have approved Proposition 50, a measure that suspends the state’s Citizens Redistricting Commission (CCRC) and allows Democrats to implement newly redrawn congressional districts beginning with the 2026 midterm elections.
According to AP and other major outlets on November 5, Proposition 50 passed with 63.9% (5,291,807 votes) in favor and 36.1% (2,988,275 votes) opposed, with 77% of ballots counted. The result represents a nearly two-to-one margin, making the measure’s passage effectively certain.
Proposition 50 halts the activities of the CCRC and enacts a revised congressional map that will apply to all 52 federal House districts in California from 2026 through 2030. The California Democratic Party advanced the measure in response to Texas’ recent redistricting changes, seeking to temporarily suspend the commission’s authority. In August, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) drew the new boundaries independently, crafting a map expected to favor Democrats.
Political outlet Politico reported on November 4 that under the new configuration, five of the nine Republican-held congressional districts in California are likely to shift toward Democrats.
Out of the state’s 58 counties, 32 recorded majority support for Proposition 50. In Los Angeles County, 73.3% of voters supported the measure—totaling 1,509,870 votes, roughly one-quarter of the state’s total yes votes. Orange County also approved it, with 54.8% (436,208 votes) in favor. As a result, the districts represented by Republican Young Kim (40th District) and Ken Calvert (41st District) will be partially merged.
Elsewhere across the country, several key races took place on the same day, including gubernatorial, mayoral, and attorney general elections. Among them, the most closely watched was the New York City mayoral race. Democrat Zohran Mamdani, a socialist and state assemblymember, defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo with 50.4% of the vote, based on 93% of ballots counted. A socialist mayor taking office in what is often called the world’s financial capital is expected to bring political and economic upheaval. Mamdani campaigned on progressive proposals such as free childcare for children under five, fare-free bus service, public grocery stores, rent freezes, and higher taxes on the wealthy. Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase CEO, previously described his agenda as “ideological mush.”
Democrats also won gubernatorial races in Virginia, where Abigail Spanberger, a former U.S. representative, secured victory, and in New Jersey, where Mikie Sherrill, also a former House member, prevailed.
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
