Gerrymandering is a road California shouldn’t take. Vote no on Prop 50 | Opinion
“When they go low, we go high”
The words of former First Lady Michelle Obama were once a battle cry for the Democratic Party; now they’re barely a whisper that holds no weight in the party.
Obama’s words once set a moral compass for Democrats. When Republicans or any extremist group decided to cheat or go below the belt, we took the high road.
It’s a mantra that I use to set my own moral compass.
However, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Democrats are taking the low road in fighting President Donald Trump, the lowest political actor of them all. First, Trump compelled Texas to redraw congressional districts to favor electing more Republicans. He is desperate to protect the tiny GOP majority in the House of Representatives so that he can keep doing whatever cruel, bigoted, corrupt thing he wants.
So now Newsom wants California voters to approve cheating by allowing Democrats to redraw our state congressional districts to help elect more Democrats. That’s what Proposition 50 is about.
Newsom and Prop 50 supporters argue that this is the last resort, the stand Democrats must take to save democracy from the clutches of Trump. But what isn’t spoken enough of is the political morality sacrificed in the process.
“California has always been a national leader in promoting democracy and inclusion, and Texas is decidedly not,” No on Prop 50 supporter Cynthia Dai said to the California McClatchy Editorial Board. “Californians fired politicians from drawing their own lines through a ballot initiative, which is an example of direct democracy.”
Letting politicians take back that power, even temporarily, undermines the model system of citizens commissions drawing congressional boundaries that this state had created, and voters previously approved.
Furthermore, gerrymandering districts to favor Democrats is lazy and is no substitute for making California more affordable and building more housing. Dai told our board that she agreed with the idea that Democrats could elect more Democrats if they stopped Democrats at the local level from blocking needed housing in our communities. I agree. But instead of doing their jobs, Democrats led by Newsom want to cheat to combat Trump’s cheating.
Gerrymandering taints California politics
Prop 50 is a cheap way to avoid improving California.
The No on Prop 50 group warned that this will set a dangerous precedent. It’s forecasted that in 2032 the state will lose five seats because of a decrease in population. It’s largely due to the lack of affordable housing and high unemployment rate.
A poll conducted by the Latino Community Foundation and BSP Research reveals that Latino Californians, a key demographic, are most concerned about inflation, housing, jobs, and healthcare costs. The importance of redistricting is not on the top priority list.
While 46% of those polled said they would vote yes on Prop 50, 20% said they would vote no, and 29% didn’t know where they stood on the subject.
Unless you have been glued to what’s happening in Texas—and in D.C. for that matter—it would be hard to suggest that anyone has all the information needed to make a sound decision on Prop. 50.
This issue isn’t resonating with every Californian. Finding an affordable place to live and securing a steady job are the primary concerns.
This Prop. 50 campaign is now being influenced by politicians from outside the state. Recently, New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appeared in a Yes on Prop 50 commercial.
AOC is a charismatic and strong leader, but how is she relevant to what California does? Her involvement is a condescending gesture that tells Californians they’re ill-equipped to handle this on their own.
Why can’t we strive to make a better state so we don’t have to resort to tearing down our state’s constitution?
Morality isn’t just something you can set aside
It’s hard to imagine a world without Trump, but there will be. And for us to move past the cruelty of Trumpism, our values must stay intact.
The American vote remains the most powerful force in this country. When voters become dissatisfied with a candidate, they go to the polls and express their minds. That is what change is built on.
A vote for Prop 50 says that it is okay to go low, put values and morals aside, in an attempt to beat Donald Trump by stooping to his level.
Politics challenge us, but should never be the reason why we turn away from who we are.
No matter what lies ahead, we have to go high.
This story was originally published October 6, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Gerrymandering is a road California shouldn’t take. Vote no on Prop 50 | Opinion."
