Discussion includes the Election Rigging Response Act’s origins and student reactions
By KATYA OKS — city@theaggie.org
On Nov. 4, Californians will vote in a special election regarding Proposition 50, also known as the Election Rigging Response Act. If implemented, the act will “authorize temporary changes to congressional district maps,” which would flip five seats in the House of Representatives in favor of the Democratic party and expire in 2030, according to the summary on the official California Voter Guide website.
The special election comes as a direct response to Texas’ 2025 redistricting. In August, lawmakers redrew congressional maps to gain five Republican seats in the House of Representatives for the 2026 midterm election, according to The Texas Tribune.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott was encouraged by President Donald Trump to push the new maps through. Trump reasoned that receiving votes from Texas in the 2024 election would justify the congressional map changes.
“I got the highest vote in the history of Texas, as you probably know, we are entitled to five more seats,” Trump said in an interview with CNBC.
Catalina Silva-Oliveira, a second-year communication major and member of the Davis College Democrats, expressed concerns over a lack of checks to Trump’s executive power.
“What’s going on in the White House today is pretty much pervasive; it’s a devilish type of fascism,” Silva-Oliveira said. “Donald Trump has been absolutely unchecked and has been wreaking havoc across the country.”
After Texas passed the newly redistricted maps, Trump responded in a Truth Social post.
“Big WIN for the Great State of Texas!!!,” the post reads. “Everything Passed, on our way to FIVE more Congressional seats and saving your Rights, your Freedoms, and your Country, itself.”
As of September, lawmakers in Missouri redrew their maps to give Republicans an advantage in seven of their eight districts, following Texas’ efforts, according to PBS. Proposition 50 was put on the ballot by the California State Legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom, justifying their response as necessary to stop Republicans’ “power-grab,” according to the Stop Election Rigging website.
The proposition’s main goal is to ensure the 2026 midterm elections are “conducted on a level playing field without an unfair advantage for Republicans” while maintaining its commitment to “fair redistricting,” according to the website.
Silva-Oliveira agreed with that assertion.
“Prop 50 simply adds a district where Latino voters make up a third of the population,” Silva-Oliveira said. “It’s a relatively fair redistricting, at least compared to Texas, [which] has purposely racially gerrymandered [district lines] to get rid of Black and Latino voices.”
The introduction of Proposition 50 comes at a time when many voters are growing increasingly frustrated — not just with the Republican party, but with what they see as Democratic inaction, according to a poll conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Clara Zhong, a second-year statistics major, expressed her own perspective on the lack of action.
“I feel as though [Democrats] always tend to take a very centrist response,” Zhong said. “[They] perceive themselves as the [moral] high ground. […] But I just don’t think that’s an apt response anymore.”
Zhong also shared what she believes to be the current impact of such a strategy.
“[By not being] reactionary to Donald Trump and his coalition, I feel like [the Democrats] are losing a lot of political power and ground, and, in many ways, [are] starting to alienate certain parts of the Democratic base as well,” Zhong said.
Newsom has also emerged as a prominent figure in the Democratic party’s recent wave of political action. In response to the Trump administration, Newsom has mirrored some of its language in his social media presence.
“FOX HATES THAT I AM AMERICA’S MOST FAVORITE GOVERNOR (“RATINGS KING”) SAVING AMERICA,” Governor Newsom Press Office’s tweet reads.
His social media presence also reflects on his work on Proposition 50.
“When Trump tries to rig elections, we must fight back with every legal tool available,” the campaign website reads.
Silva-Oliveira described her thoughts on Newsom.
“Most people disagree with a lot of his policies towards homeless people and people of color; I personally disagree with those policies, too,” Silva-Oliveira said. “But the reason why he’s gaining so much popularity is because he has taken a stance of leadership when not a lot of people are willing to.”
Silva-Oliveira also noted how the proposal of Proposition 50 “finally puts Democrats in an offensive stance.”
And yet, many have also expressed concerns over the potential future impacts of Proposition 50 if it passes.
The “Vote No on Prop 50” campaign expresses that California needs to maintain its “gold standard for fair redistricting” and to “lead the country in showing that independent, citizen-led redistricting is the better path forward,” according to their official website.
Zhong shared similar concerns about the extent of this sort of political action.
“I obviously know that this type of action would end in 2030, [but] it’s similar to Republican redistricting in Texas, which was obviously not fair in many aspects,” Zhong said. “Having a bipartisan redistricting committee commission is really important. Just because they’re gerrymandering in favor of my [political] side doesn’t necessarily mean that’s a good thing.”
Silva-Oliveira also believes in California maintaining a bipartisan redistricting process. She expressed that Proposition 50’s temporary nature lessens her worries.
“I think the keyword [in the proposition] is temporary; the state legislature has been very clear on what exactly [this] means [and] any effects it will have if it is passed,” Silva-Oliveira said. “This proposition [is] an emergency […]; it’s simply a protective measure in the name of democracy.”
Zhong expressed the importance of voting and doing one’s research.
“[People] should make their own informed decisions about whether they decide that [Prop 50] is helping to solve the bigger issue of fighting against unfair redistricting and if they support that type of action,” Zhong said.
Silva-Oliveira also shared the importance of becoming active in politics, especially for the upcoming special election.
“Neutrality is not an option when people’s rights are at stake, and that’s why I believe people — especially youth — should vote yes on Prop 50,” Silva-Oliveira said. “It’s really a shot at something different; a shot at hopefully saving our democracy.”
Written By: Katya Oks — city@theaggie.org
