California Proposition 50 will pass, ABC News projects
Last updated: Thursday, November 6, 2025 2:11AM GMT
California Proposition 50 will pass, ABC News projects based upon analysis of the exit polls.
Prop. 50 put the power of California's Congressional district lines in the hands of voters. Republicans are calling it a Democratic power grab, while Democrats say it's necessary to fight Republican redistricting in Texas.
See live election results below
Here's everything you need to know about the special election and voting.
Nov 05, 2025, 4:10 AM
Prop 50 passes, ABC News projects
California Proposition 50 will pass, ABC News projects based upon analysis of the exit polls.
Prop 50 will temporarily change the boundaries of several congressional districts for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections, but in particular, five districts where Republicans are currently in power.
That would give California Democrats the opportunity to win five more seats in the U.S. House.
Nov 04, 2025, 12:58 AM GMT
Experts weigh in on Prop 50 and what's next
For 15 years, California's Congressional district lines have been drawn by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, a group that follows strict rules that govern how districts should be divided so the people of California are fairly represented in Congress.
Linda Akutagawa, a non-partisan member of the commission, explained how she and her 13 fellow commission members determined the district lines in 2020. They followed six criteria, including listening to the concerns of Californians.
"We took over 36,000 pieces of input from Californians sharing with us what they think is important to their communities, that their communities have a common interest. This is a great example along the eastern edge of California, to the east of the Sierra Nevada," Akutagawa said.
Marc Brown sat down with political experts to discuss the November special election and the future of Prop 50 on Eyewitness Newsmakers.
"They poked the bear, and the bear is poking back," Newsom told the crowd. "Prop 50 is not about drawing lines on a map. It is about holding the line to what makes us who we are."
A packed house of supporters roared Monday as Governor Gavin Newsom made his closing argument for Proposition 50.
Flanked by prominent elected Democrats and union leaders, including labor activist Dolores Huerta, the governor urged his party to leave everything on the field and turn out "in record numbers."
Nov 04, 2025, 12:40 AM GMT
Vote-by-mail ballots returned so far for California Prop 50 special election
Ballot for the California Proposition 50 special election have been rolling into state county registrar's offices since October.
Mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by Nov. 12.
See the map below for county-by-county data on how many vote-by-mail ballots have been returned and accepted so far.
Nov 04, 2025, 12:40 AM GMT
I missed the registration deadline. Can I still vote?
Same-day voter registration is open now at county election offices and vote centers up to and including Election Day.
You will be able to vote in the special election and register to vote at the same time. You will be given a provisional ballot.
When your voter registration is approved, your provisional ballot will be counted.
