Supporters of Proposition 50, California Democrats’ ballot measure to redraw the state’s congressional districts to help the party gain power in the U.S. House of Representatives, have raised more than four times the amount their rivals have raised in recent weeks, according to campaign finance reports filed with the state by the three main committees campaigning on the measure.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s committee supporting the redistricting measure raised $36.8 million between Sept. 21 and Oct. 18, bringing its total to $114.3 million, according to the report filed Thursday with the secretary of state’s office, which was not available until Monday. He had $37.1 million in the bank and could be spent before the Nov. 4 special election.
“We met our budget goals and increased what we needed to pass Proposition 50,” Newsom emailed supporters Monday. “You can stop giving.”
The two main opposition groups raised a total of $8.4 million during the 28 days covered by the fundraising period, bringing their total haul to $43.7 million. They had $2.3 million in cash on hand for the latter part of the campaign.
“As Gavin Newsom likes to say, we’re not running the 90-yard dash here. We’ve seen an outpouring of support from Californians who understand what’s at stake if we let people go.” [President] Trump stole two more years of unchecked power,” said Hannah Milgrom, a spokeswoman for the main pro-Proposition 50 campaign. “But we’re not taking anything for granted, nor are we taking our foot off the gas. If we want to hold this dangerous and reckless president accountable, we must pass Proposition 50.”
Newsom and other California Democrats decided to ask voters to redraw the state’s congressional boundaries, which are currently drawn by an independent, voter-approved commission, in mid-decade redistricting after Trump urged GOP-led states to redraw their districts in an effort to allow Republicans to maintain control of Congress in state elections. next year’s midterms.
The balance of power in a closely divided House will determine whether Trump is able to continue implementing his agenda in his final two years in office, or whether he will face investigations and possibly an impeachment effort.
Major donors supporting Proposition 50 include billionaire financier George Soros; the House Majority PAC, the campaign arm of congressional Democrats; and unions.
Among Prop 50’s opponents, top contributors include longtime GOP donor Charles Munger Jr., the son of billionaire Warren Buffett’s investment partner; and the Congressional Leadership Fund, the political arm of Republicans in the House.
“While we are overwhelmed, we continue to communicate with Californians about the dangers of suspending California’s benchmark redistricting process,” said Amy Thoma, a spokeswoman for the Munger-funded committee. “With just ten days to go, we encourage all voters to make their voices heard and vote. »
Ellie Hockenbury, an adviser to the committee that received $5 million from the Congressional Leadership Fund, said the organization was committed to continuing to raise money to block Newsom’s redistricting efforts in the days leading up to the election.
“His costly takeover would silence millions of Californians and deprive them of fair representation in Congress, which is why popular opposition is growing,” Hockenbury said. “In the final effort, our data-driven campaign strategically targets key voters with our message to ensure every resource helps us defeat Proposition 50.”
There are several other committees not affiliated with these main campaign groups that receive funding. These include one created by billionaire hedge fund founder Tom Steyer, who donated $12 million, and the California Republican Party, which received $8 million from the Congressional Leadership Fund.
These reports come just over a week before the November 4 special election. More than 4 million mail-in ballots — 18% of the ballots sent to California’s 23 million voters — had been returned as of Friday, according to a vote tracking system run by Democratic redistricting expert Paul Mitchell, who drew the proposed maps on the ballot. Democrats continue to lead Republicans in returning ballots, 51% to 28%. Voters registered without party preference or with other political parties returned 21% of the ballots received.
The participation figures worry Republican leaders.
“If Republicans don’t get out and vote now, we will lose Prop 50 and Gavin Newsom will control our districts until 2032,” Orange County GOP Chairman Will O’Neill wrote to party members Friday, urging them to vote last weekend and sharing the locations of early voting centers in the county.
Rep. Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego) was more direct on social media.
“Right now we are losing the Prop 50 fight in California, but turnout is LOW,” he posted Friday on the social media platform
More than 18.9 million ballots are outstanding, but not all will be completed. Early voting centers opened in 29 California counties on Saturday.
“Think of Election Day as the last day to vote, not the only day. As we always do, California is giving voters more days and more ways to participate,” Secretary of State Shirley Weber said in a statement. “Don’t delay! Vote today!”
The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday that it plans to monitor polling places in Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties, at the request of the state Republican Party.
“Election transparency translates to trust in the electoral process, and this Department of Justice is committed to the highest standards of election integrity,” said Atty. » said General Pam Bondi. “We will dedicate the resources necessary to ensure that the American people get the fair, free and transparent elections they deserve. »
Newsom, in an article on
“This is about voter intimidation. This is about voter suppression,” Newsom said, predicting that masked border agents would likely be present at California polling places through the Nov. 4 election. “I hope people understand that this is a bridge they are trying to build for everyone across the country in the elections next November. They don’t believe in fair and free elections. Our republic, our democracy, is at stake.”
