Proposition 50 starts strong, with 64% of the statewide vote

This story has been updated with new results and with a statement from the Santa Cruz County Republican party chair.

Statewide voting results Wednesday morning showed Proposition 50 ahead by a large margin, with just over 63% of Californians voting yes, and 77.2% of Santa Cruz County voters giving it a thumbs-up.

If it keeps its lead, Prop. 50—also known as the Election Rigging Response Act—would allow state officials to redraw the state’s congressional district maps. Supporters say the law—which would last until the 2030 census—is in response to Republican efforts to redraw congressional boundaries in other states such as Texas in an effort to shift elections in their favor. Opponents counter that it would remove voter protections that prohibit maps designed to favor one political party. 

Hundreds of people came to the Santa Cruz County Government Center and to the Watsonville Civic Plaza to cast their votes, lining up as they waited their turn to drop their ballot in locked boxes.

The Pajaronian tried unsuccessfully to find a voter at the polls who was opposed to the proposition.

In a prepared statement, Santa Cruz County Republican Party chairman Mike Lelieur called the measure’s apparent passage “unfortunate.”

“This measure takes power away from the independent Citizens Redistricting Commission—the very reform California voters supported in 2008 and 2010 to keep politicians from drawing their own districts,” he said. “Its passage is a step backward for fair representation and government accountability, and it now opens the door for other states to follow suit, weakening voter-driven redistricting reforms across the country.”

Lelieur said that the proposition is unconstitutional, and that it will be challenged in court.

“In response, states like Florida and others are likely to redistrict to counter California’s move, deepening the political divide nationwide,” he said. “Governor Newsom and Democrat voters have just opened a can of worms that will have consequences far beyond California.”

Santa Cruz County Supervisor and Board Chair Felipe Hernandez said he was happy about the news.

“Essentially, with the passing of Prop 50, it levels the playing field and gives power back to the voters,” he said.

Emma Zappone, 27, of Santa Cruz, said after she dropped off her ballot that her yes vote came from her opposition to the Trump Administration’s policies.

“I very much oppose what’s going on in our country right now,” she said. “Trump is trying to stay in power until 2028, and this is our fighting chance to make things right.”

Emily Chappelear, 27, agreed, and added that issues such as homelessness and growing wealth and wage gaps need to be addressed by a diverse group of lawmakers. That’s why Prop. 50 is so important, she said.

“I am against everything Trump believes in,” she said. “Everything that can be done to stop him is important.

Frank Vickner, 74, said that Prop. 50 would “even out the score” after lawmakers passed similar legislation in Texas that favors Congressional Republicans.

“This makes it an even playing field,” he said. “There is a lot of interest in making things right.”

Nate Kindler, a 20-year-old UC Santa Cruz student, said that taking action is important in a time when it’s too easy to feel hopeless.

“It’s important that elections be treated fairly, and that our government keeps everything balanced,” he said. 

Santa Cruz County Clerk Tricia Weber said that more than 2,500 people countywide opt for in-person voting, and so she was not surprised to see the lines of people.

As of Monday night, vote by mail and early in-person voting was 37%, which she said was high for a special election.

The last special election was the 2021 recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom, which failed in a landslide with more than 69% of voters statewide voting no.

That election brought in 60% of Santa Cruz County voters, Weber said.

“Will we get that high for this one? I don’t know,” she said.