"No one I know actually likes getting rid of an independent commission in favor of the state's 43 House Democrats picking their voters and ensuring they won't face serious opposition in ultra-safe seats. This will make congressional elections throughout California a mere formality, and everyone knows it. Any fair-minded person realizes that if Prop. 50 passes and its desired goals are reached, the 55% of Californians who are non-Democrats will enjoy, at best, about 8% representation in the state's congressional delegation,"
"People are willing to sacrifice their own and other Californians' interests if it has any chance of slowing the Trump administration. I've been able to persuade people, however, with this argument: Proposition 50 promises to end gerrymandering in 2030, but we'll be stuck with it forever. Elections will become mere formalities, and it won't be different in result from losing them altogether through the coup d'état or civil war that extreme pessimists keep predicting."
Proposition 50 would replace an independent redistricting commission with California's 43 House Democrats controlling congressional district lines. The measure would likely create ultra-safe seats and reduce competitive congressional elections across California. The projected effect would skew representation, with about 55% of Californians who are non-Democrats potentially receiving roughly 8% of the state's House seats while 45% who are Democrats could receive about 92%. Some supporters justify the measure as temporary until 2030 or as a tactic against national Republicans. Continued population loss, including an estimated Los Angeles County decline of about 450,000 since 2020, could cost seats and entrench gerrymandering.
Read at San Jose Spotlight
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