Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris and a slew of different nationwide and California Democrats on Saturday rallied supporters to remain fired up in searching for passage of a poll measure to redraw the state’s congressional districts forward of the midterm elections.
Whereas polling suggests Proposition 50 is prone to go Tuesday, volunteers should proceed knocking on doorways, telephone banking and motivating voters via Election Day, they stated. Newsom advised volunteers they should observe the mannequin of sprinters, leaving all of it on the sphere.
“We can’t afford to run the 90-yard sprint. You Angelenos, you’ve received the Olympics coming in 2028. They don’t run the 90-yard sprint. They run the 110-yard sprint. We now have received to be at peak on Election Day,” Newsom advised lots of of supporters on the Conference Middle in downtown Los Angeles. “We can’t take something as a right.”
Hours earlier, Republicans spoke out in opposition to the poll measure at John Wayne Park in Newport Seashore, earlier than sending groups into neighborhoods to drum up votes for his or her aspect.
“What Proposition 50 will do is disenfranchise, which means, disregard all Republicans within the state of California,” state Meeting member Diane Dixon (R-Newport Seashore) stated. “Ninety % of 6 million [Californian Republicans] can be disenfranchised.”
Prop. 50 would redraw California’s congressional districts in an try to spice up the variety of Democrats in Congress. The trouble was proposed by Newsom and different California Democrats in hope of blunting President Trump’s push in Texas and different GOP-led states to extend the variety of Republicans elected to the U.S. Home of Representatives in subsequent yr’s midterm elections. However even when voters approve the poll measure that would flip 5 California districts at present represented by Republicans, it’s unclear whether or not that can be sufficient to shift management of the Home except there’s a blue wave within the 2026 elections.
The social gathering that wins management of the Home will form Trump’s ultimate two years within the White Home and decide whether or not he is ready to proceed enacting his agenda or whether or not he faces a spate of investigations and probably one other impeachment try.
The particular election is among the many costliest poll measures in state historical past. Greater than $192 million has flowed into varied marketing campaign committees since state lawmakers voted in August to place the proposition on the poll. Supporters of the redistricting effort raised exponentially extra money than opponents, and polling reveals the proposition is prone to go.
As of Friday, greater than 1 / 4 of the state’s 23 million registered voters had forged ballots, with Democrats outpacing Republicans.
Newsom was joined Saturday by Harris, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla of California and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, different Democrats and labor leaders.
Harris, in a shock look on the gathering, argued that the Trump administration is implementing long-sought GOP targets equivalent to voter suppression.
“This battle shouldn’t be about sitting by and complaining, ‘Oh, they’re dishonest,’” the previous vice chairman stated. “It’s about recognizing what they’re as much as. There may be an agenda that we’re witnessing which feels chaotic, I do know, however the truth is, we’re witnessing a high-velocity occasion that’s in regards to the swift implementation of a plan that has been a long time within the making.”
A number of audio system referred to the immigration raids that began in Los Angeles in June and deep cuts to federal security nets, together with the diet help program for low-income households and healthcare protection for seniors and the disabled.
“We all know there’s a lot on the road this Tuesday. And a reminder, Tuesday shouldn’t be Election Day — it’s the final day to vote,” Padilla stated. “Don’t wait until Tuesday. Get your ballots in, people…. Pretty much as good because the polls look, we have to run up the rating on this as a result of the eyes of the nation are going to be on California on Tuesday. And we have to win and we have to win huge.”
Padilla, a usually staid legislator, then provided a modified riff of a lyric by rapper Ice Dice, who grew up in South Los Angeles.
“Donald Trump — you higher verify your self earlier than you wreck America,” stated Padilla, who’s contemplating working for governor subsequent yr.
Practically 50 miles southeast, about 50 Republican canvassers fueled up on espresso and doughnuts, united over the brisk climate and annoyance about Newsom’s try to redraw California’s congressional districts.
Will O’Neill, chairman of the Orange County Republican Social gathering, equated this ultimate push in opposition to Prop. 50 because the California GOP’s Sport 7 — a nod to Friday evening’s World Collection battle between the Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays.
“Orange County proper now could be the one county in Southern California that has a shot of getting extra Republicans than Democrats voting,” O’Neill stated. “We anticipate that over the following three days, round 70% of everybody who votes is gonna vote no on 50. However we’d like them to vote.”
Ariana Assenmacher, of California Younger Republicans, heart, organizes throughout a gathering of Republican Social gathering members urgent to vote no on Proposition 50 within the upcoming California Statewide Particular Election at John Wayne Park in Newport Seashore on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
(Christina Home / Los Angeles Occasions)
O’Neill labeled the measure a “hyper-partisan energy seize.” If Prop. 50 passes, it would dilute Republican energy in Orange County by splitting communities and roping some residents into districts represented by Los Angeles County politicians.
Dixon additionally rallied volunteers — which included a handful of school college students from throughout the state: “Be well mannered. Simply say thanks very a lot. Similar to Charlie Kirk would. Don’t [stimulate] an argument. Simply be pleasant.”
“They’re squeezing out what little or no illustration Republicans have within the state,” stated Kristen Nicole Valle, president of the Orange County Younger Republicans.
“We is not going to be listening to from 40% of Californians if Prop. 50 passes.”
Randall Avila, govt director of the Orange County GOP, stated the measure disenfranchises Latino GOP voters like himself.
Nationally, Trump managed to realize 48% of the Latino vote, a Pew Analysis research confirmed, which proved essential to his second presidential victory.
“Clearly our neighborhood has sort of proven we’re prepared to change events and go one other path if that elected official or that social gathering isn’t serving us,” Avila stated. “So it’s unlucky that a few of these voices are actually gonna be silenced with a predetermined winner of their district.”
Not all hope is misplaced for Republicans if Prop. 50 is authorized, Avila stated. A handful of seats may very well be snagged by Republicans, together with the districts held by Reps. Dave Min (D-Irvine) and Derek Tran (D-Orange).
“If the strains do change, that doesn’t imply we pack up and go house,” he stated. “Simply means we reorganize, we reconfigure issues, after which we maintain combating.”
