California Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa urged voters Wednesday to reject Proposition 50, a measure that would redraw U.S. House districts in the state, saying it represents a partisan power grab.
“It’s really a blatant power grab,” LaMalfa said at a press conference in Chico, a city at the southern end of his district in Northern California.
Proposition 50 would create new congressional maps outside the usual once-a-decade process handled by an independent commission. Democrats say the measure is needed to counter efforts in Texas to gain additional Republican seats, while Republicans argue it would dilute conservative voting power.
Governor Gavin Newsom supports the proposition, calling it a step to defend democracy. Republicans, including LaMalfa, say it unfairly advantages Democrats. Currently, Republicans hold nine of California’s 52 congressional seats.
If passed, the new maps would be used for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections. After the 2030 Census, redistricting authority would return to the independent commission. LaMalfa warned that the measure could set a precedent for permanent partisan control of redistricting.
LaMalfa’s district, which spans rural areas known for rice, olive, and nut farming as well as ranching, would be split and merged with more liberal coastal districts. This change would increase Democratic voters in his district, making his reelection bid more difficult. LaMalfa, first elected in 2013, said he still plans to run for reelection.
During the press conference, LaMalfa was joined by local officials and farmers. Some Northern California voters said they had seen little from him leading up to the election, as the fight over House control has been largely dominated by Democratic voters in Los Angeles and the Bay Area.
Campaign ads opposing Proposition 50 have mostly dried up, and Newsom has told supporters they can stop contributing. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly 2-to-1 in California, and they are returning ballots at almost twice the rate of Republicans.
“The optimist in me wants to believe we could defeat it,” said Geri Byrne, a Modoc County supervisor and chair of the Rural County Representatives of California, who joined LaMalfa at the event.
A statewide poll by the Public Policy Institute of California released Wednesday showed 56% of likely voters would support Proposition 50, while 43% opposed it.
LaMalfa said his campaign will continue reaching voters through text messages and social media. He urged Californians to turn in their ballots as soon as possible.
“Why would you want to wait till then? I don’t know why,” LaMalfa said in an interview. “But that’s part of our messaging: ‘Just get it in.’”
His appeal comes as President Trump recently criticized early and mail-in voting for Proposition 50, posting on Truth Social: “No mail-in or ‘Early’ Voting, Yes to Voter ID! Watch how totally dishonest the California Prop Vote is!”
Despite challenges, LaMalfa remains focused on rallying Republican voters in his district, emphasizing the importance of immediate ballot submission to counter the expected Democratic turnout in urban centers.
