DATE:
October 21, 2025
TO:
Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:
Rachel Molina, City Manager
BY:
Melinda Sayre, Deputy City Manager/City Clerk
Tammy Pelayes, Assistant to the City Manager
SUBJECT:
California Proposition 50 – Authorizes Temporary Changes to Congressional District Maps
RECOMMENDED ACTION
It is recommended that the City Council receive and file this report which provides background and factual information regarding Proposition 50, scheduled for the November 4, 2025, Special Election in California.
BACKGROUND
At the City Council meeting on October 7, 2025, Mayor Lee requested that an item be agendized regarding California Proposition 50, a proposition placed on the Statewide Special Election ballot, that authorizes temporary changes to congressional district maps.
The United States Congress is the part of the federal government that makes laws. Congress has two parts: the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. Each of the 50 states is represented by 2 senators, with 100 senators in total. The House has 435 members. The number of representatives in the House for each state depends on how many people live in that state. Each member in the House represents an area of the state called a congressional district. California currently has 52 congressional districts. Voters who live in each congressional district elect one member to the House every two years to represent them. The next election for all 435 representatives will be in 2026.
The United States Census counts the number of people who live in the United States. The last census was in 2020, and the next census is in 2030. Every 10 years, after the United States Census is completed, states draw new congressional district maps to reflect their number of House representatives based on where people live. This process is called “redistricting.” Each state decides what process to use to draw its new district maps. When drawing new maps, each state must follow federal laws.
Under the California Constitution, redistricting of congressional, State Senate and State Assembly districts is normally handled by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, a nonpartisan body that was created by the authorization of California voters in 2008. The Commission draws district lines every 10 years, following the decennial United States Census, and must draw the district lines in conformity with strict, nonpartisan criteria established in the California Constitution to ensure fair and equal representation for all Californians. For example, California law requires, among other things, the Commission to avoid splitting up neighborhoods or local communities of interest to the extent possible. State law also prohibits the Commission from considering political parties, current office holders, or people running for office when it draws the maps. The Commission’s maps are intended to avoid partisan gerrymandering by taking the authority out of direct legislative control. The current maps drawn by the Commission for California’s 52 congressional districts were based on the 2020 United States Census and have been used since the 2022 congressional elections.
ISSUES/ANALYSIS
Earlier this year, the Texas Legislature enacted new congressional maps midway between redistricting cycles, claiming that such redistricting was in response to, and required by, a Texas court decision regarding that state’s prior congressional maps. In response to Texas’ new congressional maps, California’s Legislature and Governor sought to enact their own adjustment. Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 280, calling for a statewide special election on November 4, 2025, to consider a constitutional amendment, assigning the initiative as Proposition 50.
Proposition 50 proposes to replace California’s current congressional district maps with new, legislatively drawn maps midway between redistricting cycles. The new redistricting maps would not be drawn by the nonpartisan Commission or follow the requirements established in the California Constitution. However, the new redistrict maps will still follow federal law.
Proposition 50 asks the United States Congress to change federal law and propose an amendment to the United States Constitution to require redistricting be done by “fair, independent, and nonpartisan redistricting commissions nationwide.” If approved, the new maps would be in place for the next three congressional election cycles in 2026, 2028 and 2030. After the 2030 Census, the redistricting authority would revert to the Citizens Redistricting Commission.
CITY GOAL SUPPORTED BY THIS ITEM
Public Safety – Ensure public safety resources adequately protect our community.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Official Voter Information Guide notes that one-time costs to counties of up to a few million dollars statewide. County costs would be to update election materials to reflect new congressional maps.
ALTERNATIVE(S)
Provide alternative direction to staff.
ATTACHMENT(S)
Current and Proposed Congressional Districts Maps provided in the Official Voter Information Guide. 01071.0001 2056513.1
01071.0001 2056513.1
City of Hesperia STAFF REPORT City of Hesperia STAFF REPORT City of Hesperia
STAFF REPORT
City of Hesperia
STAFF REPORT
Staff Report to the Mayor and Council Members
California Proposition 50
October 21, 2025