Supporters of Proposition 50, California Democrats' ballot measure to redraw the state's congressional districts to help the party's effort to take power in the U.S. House, raised more than four times the money of their rivals 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 with the Secretary of State's office on Thursday, which was not available until Monday. They had $37.1 million in the bank and available to spend ahead of the Nov. 4 special election.
“We have met our budget goals and raised what we need to pass Proposition 50,” Newsom emailed supporters Monday. “You can stop donating.”
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 final stretch of the campaign.
“As Gavin Newsom likes to say, we're not running the 90 yards here. We've seen a groundswell of support from Californians who understand what's at stake if we allow [President] “Trump steals two more years of unchecked power,” said Hannah Milgrom, a spokesperson for the main pro-Prop. 50 campaign. “But we're not taking anything for granted or taking our foot off the gas. If we want to hold this dangerous and reckless president accountable, we must pass Prop. 50.”
Newsom and other California Democrats decided to ask voters to redraw the state's congressional boundaries, which are currently drawn by a voter-approved independent commission, in a mid-decade redistricting after Trump urged GOP-led states to redraw their districts in an effort for Republicans to maintain control of Congress in the midterm elections. next year's period.
The balance of power in the closely divided House of Representatives will determine whether Trump can continue to implement his agenda during his final two years in office, or whether he is the focus of investigations and possibly an impeachment attempt.
Major donors supporting Proposition 50 include billionaire financier George Soros, the House Majority PAC (the campaign arm of Democrats in Congress), and labor unions.
Among Proposition 50 opponents, longtime Republican donor Charles Munger Jr., son of billionaire Warren Buffett's investment partner, and the Congressional Leadership Fund (the political arm of House Republicans) were the largest contributors.
“Even though we are spending more, we continue to communicate to Californians about the dangers of suspending California's standard redistricting process,” said Amy Thoma, spokeswoman for the Munger-funded committee. “With just ten days left, we encourage all voters to make their voices heard and vote.”
Ellie Hockenbury, a committee aide who received $5 million from the Congressional Leadership Fund, said the organization was committed to continuing to raise money to block Newsom's redistricting effort in the days before the election.
“His costly power grab would silence millions of Californians and deny them fair representation in Congress, which is why popular opposition is gaining momentum,” Hockenbury said. “In the final push, our data-driven campaign strategically targets key voters with our message of ensuring every resource helps us defeat Proposition 50.”
There are several other committees not affiliated with these main campaign groups that are receiving funding. They 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 Nov. 4 special election. More than 4 million mail-in ballots — 18% of ballots sent to California's 23 million voters — had been returned as of Friday, according to a vote tracker run by Democratic redistricting expert Paul Mitchell, who drew the proposed maps on the ballot. Democrats continue to outperform Republicans in returning votes, 51% to 28%. Registered voters without partisan preference or with other political parties cast 21% of the ballots received.
The turnout figures alarm Republican leaders.
“If Republicans don't get out and vote now, we will lose Proposition 50 and Gavin Newsom will control our district lines until 2032,” Orange County GOP Chairman Will O'Neill wrote to party members on Friday, urging them to cast their votes last weekend and sharing the locations of early voting centers in the county.
Assemblyman Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego) was more direct on social media.
“Right now we are losing the fight against Proposition 50 in CA, but turnout is LOW,” he posted Friday on social media platform
More than 18.9 million ballots are pending, although not all will be completed. Early voting centers opened Saturday in 29 California counties.
“Think of Election Day as the last day to vote, not the only day. As we always do, California is offering 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 voting sites in Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties at the request of the state Republican Party.
“Transparency at the polls translates into faith in the electoral process, and this Department of Justice is committed to maintaining the highest standards of electoral integrity,” the lawyer said. said Gen. Pam Bondi. “We will commit the resources necessary to ensure that the American people get the fair, free and transparent elections they deserve.”
Newsom, in a post on
“This is voter intimidation. This is voter suppression,” Newsom said, predicting that masked border agents would likely be present at California polling places until the Nov. 4 election. “I hope people understand that it is a bridge that they are trying to build the scaffolding for the entire country in the elections next November; they do not believe in fair and free elections. Our republic, our democracy, is at stake.”
