How Gavin Newsom’s Prop 50 is Reshaping California - For Better or For Worse

California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Photo by Gage Skidmore on Flickr. Photo shared under a creative commons license.
Published: 19 Dec, 2025
1 min read
Prop 50 is redrawing California’s political battlefield, sparking new fears of gerrymandering, backroom mapmaking, and voters losing their voice. We cut through the spin to explain what’s really changing, who benefits, and what it could mean for competitive elections, election reform, and independent voters. Plus, Independent CA-40 candidate Nina Linh joins us to spell out how Prop 50’s map shifts are already reshaping her district - and her race.
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