As California’s November 5 special election approaches, millions of voters are receiving their ballots. Among this year’s measures, Proposition 50 stands out for its potential to fundamentally alter how California draws its congressional districts.
If passed, Proposition 50 would temporarily suspend the state’s Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, transferring the authority to draw congressional maps back to the state legislature. Supporters argue the measure is a necessary “defensive move” to protect California Democrats from partisan redistricting maneuvers in Republican-led states like Texas. But this proposal risks undermining the very foundations of fairness, transparency, and public trust that define California’s democratic process.
Fighting Partisanship With Partisanship Erodes the Rule of Law
As a former prosecutor, mediator, and now a trial attorney, I have seen firsthand that justice can only be preserved when the rules are applied independently of political convenience. As a former mayor and current councilmember in Arcadia—a city known for its diversity and civic pride—I firmly believe that public trust is the cornerstone of democracy. Proposition 50 threatens both.
The Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission was created by voters to ensure that politicians could no longer draw maps to protect their own power. It was a historic step forward, proving that California valued integrity over partisanship. Proposition 50 seeks to undo that progress—turning back the clock to an era when elected officials could manipulate boundaries for their own gain.
This is not “defensive democracy.” It’s a dangerous precedent. Once the door is opened to political redistricting, any future majority—Democrat or Republican—could justify seizing control again under the same excuse: “the other side did it first.”
A Legal and Constitutional Quagmire
From a legal perspective, Proposition 50 is fraught with uncertainty. Its vague criteria and rushed implementation could trigger a wave of lawsuits over equal protection, procedural fairness, and constitutional compliance. Lengthy court battles would delay elections, confuse voters, and burden already overworked county election offices—all at taxpayer expense.
The Political Cost: Eroded Accountability and Public Confidence
Politically, allowing the legislature to redraw its own maps may seem like an advantage for one party in the short term. But over time, it weakens democracy itself. Safe districts breed complacency. Elected officials in uncompetitive seats are less responsive to the broader electorate and more beholden to partisan interests. The inevitable result is deeper polarization and diminished accountability.
When voters supported the independent commission, they sent a clear message: they wanted elections to reflect the will of the people, not the will of politicians. Proposition 50 betrays that trust. It tells Californians that fairness is negotiable when power is at stake. Once that trust is broken, it’s nearly impossible to restore.
Principle Must Prevail Over Political Expediency
California should not abandon the hard-won independence that made its redistricting process a national model. In the face of partisan manipulation elsewhere, we should not imitate bad behavior—we should rise above it. True leadership means defending principles even when it’s inconvenient.
As an attorney, I am guided by the belief that the rule of law must remain untouched by politics. As an elected official, I am bound by a duty to protect the public’s faith in its institutions. Proposition 50 fails both tests.
To preserve California’s moral authority and democratic integrity, voters must reject short-term political gamesmanship. The right path is not to sacrifice fairness for advantage, but to uphold the independent, transparent process Californians overwhelmingly chose.
The Choice Before Us
When a society begins to justify breaking its own rules “just this once,” the slow decay of democracy has already begun. Proposition 50 may promise protection, but its true cost is the erosion of independence and trust.
Voting No on Proposition 50 is not a vote for one party over another—it is a vote for a system that belongs to the people, not the politicians. California’s democracy has long been a beacon for the nation. Let’s keep it that way—by choosing principle over politics.