Democratic Assemblymember Mark González admitted it's in response to Texas redrawing its district map in the hopes of adding five Republican seats. "We had to push back and create five seats of our own in order for us to make sure that we maintained democracy, especially here in California," he said.
Chairwoman of the California Republican Party, Corrin Rankin, is against the measure, believing lawmakers should not make these changes. "This is the third time this will be on our ballot as Californians. The first time was in 2008, when voters decided that they no longer wanted the California legislature, insider politicians and consultants drawing our maps behind closed doors, and that they wanted to have an independent redistricting commission. So that was created in 2008," Rankin said.
Congressman Ken Calvert, who represents the 41st District, would be drastically affected if Proposition 50 passes. Currently, his district stretches across the Inland Empire from Indio and Palm Springs to Corona. Under the proposed map, the 41st District would move entirely inside Los Angeles County with a different demographic of voters.
"To strengthen your democracy is all about respecting the will of the voters, and to move Ken Calvert's district away from people who have voted for him to represent them for over 20 years and move it to somewhere completely to the other side of Southern California is a disrespect of the will of the voters," Rankin argues.
González offered a different take. "This is a temporary measure for the next four years. In 2030, this measure goes back to voters. It goes back into an independent commission to redraw the lines based on the census in four years, and so right now, this is a temporary solution to fight back against stealing our elections. And for this, he can run for a seat, but he will certainly lose."