Newsom Puts Dishonest Ballot Title on Prop 50 to Deceive Voters

CA State Rep. Carl DeMaio is slamming Governor Gavin Newsom and Sacramento politicians for trying to rig California’s elections with Proposition 50—with DeMaio saying they’re using a false and misleading ballot title to deceive voters.  

“Prop 50 is a fraudulent scheme that uses a misleading ballot title to trick voters into giving politicians the power to gerrymander and manipulate election districts for their own benefit,” said Carl DeMaio.  

“Lying on the ballot is shameful—this is outright voter fraud,” DeMaio added. “Newsom and Sacramento politicians know they can’t sell this scheme honestly, so they’re resorting to deception,” DeMaio said.  

This November 4, Californians will be asked to vote on Prop 50—a measure presented with a ballot title that falsely suggests it retains and strengthens California’s Independent Citizens’ Redistricting Commission.

Prop 50 does the opposite: it abolishes the independent commission voters created in 2010 and hands redistricting power back to politicians.  

“This is the very definition of corruption,” DeMaio said. “Politicians want to go back to the days where they could carve up districts in smoke-filed rooms and guarantee themselves reelection. That’s not democracy—that's dictatorship.”  

Gavin Newsom’s Deceptive Title and Summary

PROP 50: AUTHORIZES TEMPORARY CHANGES TO CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAPS IN RESPONSE TO TEXAS' PARTISAN REDISTRICTING. LEGISLATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

• In response to Texas' mid-decade partisan congressional redistricting, this measure temporarily requires new congressional district maps, as passed by the Legislature in August 2025, to be used in California's congressional elections through 2030.

• Retains California's independent Citizens Redistricting Commission and directs the Commission to resume enacting congressional district maps in 2031 after the 2030 census and every ten years thereafter.

• Establishes state policy supporting use of fair, independent, and nonpartisan redistricting commissions nationwide.

What Prop 50 Really Does

Behind the misleading title Prop 50 would:  

• Eliminate Independent Maps: Politicians would once again draw their own safe seats.  

• Silence Voters: ends public hearings and community input in the process.  

• Enable Gerrymandering: Districts could be drawn to protect partisan politicians.

• Divide Communities: Maps could be made without adequate community input and manipulated to break apart neighborhoods for political gain.  

• Waste Taxpayer Money: Forces a $250 million special election while California faces massive budget deficits.

• Violates the Constitution: Opens the door to lawsuits over partisan gerrymandering and legislative interference.  

DeMaio has officially launched a statewide campaign to expose the deception behind Prop 50’s ballot title and defeat the measure at the polls. The campaign includes voter education, legal challenges, media outreach, and grassroots mobilization.  

“This campaign will be fought in the courts, in the media, and at the ballot box,” said DeMaio. “We will not let Sacramento politicians get away with this illegal and corrupt scheme.”  

Carl DeMaio is urging all Californians to join the fight.  

“On November 4, vote NO on Prop 50,” DeMaio declared. “Send a clear message that California belongs to the people—not the politicians who are trying to lie their way into power.”