California Proposition 50 stands to reshape the election landscape for Shasta and Siskiyou counties and much of the rest of the North State, where many residents will find themselves in a different congressional district starting with the 2026 election.
Early results show Prop 50 was propelled forward after receiving nearly 65% of the yes vote statewide.
But in the largely conservative North State, the majority of the electorate gave the redistricting proposal a major thumbs down, including an 80% no vote in Lassen County, a 70% no vote in Shasta County, a 62.5% no vote in Siskiyou County, a 72.5% no vote in Tehama County and a 54.2% no vote in Butte County.
In a fresh twist the morning after the election, the California Republican Party, Assemblyman David Tangipa and 18 California voters filed a federal lawsuit Nov. 5 to challenge Prop 50, alleging it unconstitutionally gerrymanders districts in violation of the 14th and 15th Amendments.
Meanwhile, millions more ballots remain to be counted across the North State. The official certified results of the election will be posted by Dec. 12, according to the California Secretary of State.
Here’s what the passage of Prop 50 means for the North State, in both the short and long term.
What is Prop 50, and what does it do?
Redistricting, where lawmakers redraw electoral maps for partisan advantage, is not uncommon in the U.S. but typically happens after the population census every 10 years.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom championed Proposition 50 in an effort to give Democratic candidates an edge in countering officials in Texas, who earlier this year redrew their voting boundaries so Republicans got the advantage.
Under Prop 50, California will temporarily use its newly-drawn voting district maps until the California Citizens Redistricting Commission draws new ones after the 2030 U.S. Census. Newsom called the effort the “Election Rigging Response Act.”
If the midterm elections follow the same voting patterns as the 2024 presidential elections, Democrats could gain six seats and improve margins in other districts.
More: Prop 50 has passed. Here’s how to see which district you’re in
How will California’s electoral map change with the new boundaries created by Prop 50?
Right now, California’s 1st Congressional District, represented by U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, includes Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, Glenn, Lassen, Butte, Modoc, Sutter and Colusa counties, along with the bulk of Yuba County. It extends from the Oregon border to the north nearly to Sacramento to the south.
The redrawn District 1 recently approved by Prop 50 would contain the existing counties of Lassen, Butte, Tehama and Glenn, adding in Plumas, Sierra and Lake counties. Portions of Mendocino and Sonoma counties, which voted for redistricting, will also be included.
California Democratic leaders have proposed redrawing congressional district maps that could lead to flipping five seats from Republican to Democrat.
Meanwhile, Shasta County, along with Siskiyou and Modoc counties, would shift into District 2, which U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, now represents.
When will the new election district boundaries become effective?
The legislation says the new boundaries would take effect in 2026.
California’s primary is scheduled for June 2, 2026, followed by the General Election on Nov. 3, 2026.
Michele Chandler covers dining, food, public safety and whatever else comes up for the Redding Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. Accepts story tips at 530-338-7753 and at [email protected]. Please support our entire newsroom’s commitment to public service journalism by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: California Republican life under Prop 50. What to know in North State
