"As California voters receive mail ballots for the November special election, which could upend the state's congressional boundaries and determine control of the House, billionaire hedge-fund founder Tom Steyer said Thursday he will spend $12 million to back Democrats' efforts to redraw districts to boost their party's ranks in the legislative body. The ballot measure was proposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and other California Democrats after President Trump urged Texas leaders to redraw their congressional districts before next year's midterm election."
"Steyer's announcement makes him the biggest funder of pro-Proposition 50 efforts, surpassing billionaire financier George Soros, who has contributed $10 million to the effort. Steyer founded a hedge fund whose investments included massive fossil fuel projects, but after he learned of the environmental consequences of these financial decisions, he divested and has worked to fight climate change. Steyer has spent hundreds of millions of dollars supporting Democratic candidates and causes and more than $300 million on his unsuccessful 2020 presidential campaign."
""We must stop Trump's election-rigging power grab," Steyer said in a statement. "The defining fight through Nov. 4 is passing Proposition 50. In order to compete and win, Democrats can't keep playing by the same old rules. This is how we fight back, and stick it to Trump.""
Tom Steyer pledged $12 million to support Proposition 50, aiming to redraw California's congressional districts and potentially deliver Democrats up to five additional House seats. The special election will be decided by mail ballots and could alter California's boundaries and influence control of the House. The measure was proposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and other California Democrats after President Trump urged Texas leaders to redraw districts. Charles Munger Jr. has donated $32 million to oppose the measure, arguing it undermines the voter-approved independent redistricting commission. Steyer plans a campaign ad imagining Trump watching returns on Nov. 4.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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