Obama Joins Newsom to Rally Support for California’s Prop 50

Former President Barack Obama joined California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Oct. 22 for a virtual volunteer event urging support for Proposition 50, the ballot measure that would let California redraw its congressional maps in response to Republican redistricting efforts in other states.

Speaking to thousands of volunteers on the livestream, Obama said the initiative reflects a larger test for American democracy.

“It is important for all of you to understand that what is at stake here is not simply how many delegates from the Democratic Party or Republican Party are elected in 2026,” Obama said. “There’s a broader principle at stake that has to do with whether or not our democracy can be manipulated by those who are already empowered to entrench themselves further, or whether we’re going to have a system that allows the people to decide who’s going to represent them.”

Proposition 50 would authorize the California Legislature to temporarily revise the state’s congressional boundaries in response to mid-decade redistricting changes enacted in other states. Once the 2030 census is completed, the measure would restore redistricting authority to California’s independent citizens commission, which normally oversees the process under the state constitution.

Newsom said the proposal was a defensive measure against what he described as an “unprecedented effort to rig the 2026 election before a single vote was cast.” He said the initiative allows California voters to “fight fire with fire” by approving maps drawn through the Legislature before returning control to the commission.

Under the proposal, California’s temporary maps would remain in effect until 2031, when the state’s independent redistricting commission regains its authority following the 2030 census.  Newsom said more than 1 million people have contributed time or resources to the campaign ahead of the Nov. 4 special election.

The push for Prop. 50 comes as several Republican-led states advance mid-decade redistricting plans that could shift additional U.S. House seats to the GOP. North Carolina lawmakers on Oct. 22 passed the Realign Congressional Districts Act, transforming a Democratic-leaning district into a Republican-leaning one. The measure, passed on party-line votes in both chambers, immediately became law and cannot be vetoed by the state’s Democratic governor.

According to an Associated Press analysis, the new North Carolina map could flip the First District—currently held by Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.)—to the GOP in 2026. Republican leaders said their move was in direct response to California’s Prop 50.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a similar measure in August, adjusting House districts around Austin, Dallas, and Houston to favor Republicans. Redistricting discussions are also underway in Ohio, Kansas, and Indiana.

Republican officials have defended these efforts as lawful exercises of state authority. President Donald Trump has both endorsed and argued for such redistricting efforts by Republican-led states.

Obama said the outcome of California’s vote could resonate far beyond the state.

“When a few people stand up for what’s right, that emboldens others,” he told supporters. “The work you’re doing is going to make others feel like, hey, we can do something too.”

Early voting is already underway in California, with election day set for Nov. 4.