Staff Report: November 4, 2025 Statewide Special Election, Proposition 50

The following report was provided to the Board of Supervisors for the September 30, 2025 meeting.

September 30, 2025

Marin County Board of Supervisors
3501 Civic Center Drive
San Rafael, CA  94903

SUBJECT:  November 4, 2025 Statewide Ballot Proposition 50

Dear Supervisors:

RECOMMENDATION: Receive informational report and adopt Resolution in Support of statewide ballot Proposition 50 on the November 4, 2025 Special Election.

DISCUSSION/BACKGROUND: In each statewide election, the Office of the County Executive (OCE) brings an informational report to your Board on the upcoming ballot propositions and recommends a ‘Support’, ‘Oppose’, or seeks Board direction based on the adopted Legislative Platform. This provides an opportunity for your Board to articulate its priorities in statewide policy issues that affect Marin County residents.

The November 4, 2025 statewide special election – called by the Governor and Legislature in August – takes place outside the regular cycle of primaries and general elections in even-numbered years. Special elections in California are usually called to decide on a specific ballot measure, fill a vacancy in office, or conduct a recall.

There is only one proposition on the November 4, 2025 ballot:

• Proposition 50 (Election Rigging Response Act), a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot by the Legislature with a two-thirds vote in each house.

If approved, Proposition 50 would temporarily (for the 2026 to 2030 elections) move authority for drawing California’s congressional maps from the independent Citizens Redistricting Commission back to the Legislature. After this period, authority would return to the Commission. Because this change amends the state Constitution, it requires voter approval. Proposition 50 would not redraw state Legislature districts.

The U.S. House of Representatives has 435 members, each representing 760,000-770,000 residents, with elections held every two years. California currently has 52 districts. House districts are redrawn after each U.S. Census to keep populations roughly equal – a process known as “redistricting”. In most states, Legislatures draw the maps, but in 2010 California voters approved a ballot initiative to give this authority to the Citizens Redistricting Commission, made up of 14 members (5 Democrats, 5 Republicans, and 4 independents). By law, the Commission cannot consider political parties or incumbents – it instead aims to keep “communities of interest” together, considers geographic compactness, etc. The Commission drew California’s current 52 congressional district maps based on the 2020 census, and these have been in effect since the 2022 elections.

Typically, absent litigation, states do not redistrict sooner than every 10 years. However, in August the Texas Legislature passed a bill (which the Governor subsequently signed into law) to adopt new maps for the 2026 elections, without a court order. The new Texas plan is widely described as partisan, with the goal of creating five additional Republican-leaning districts. In recent elections, control of the House has been determined by a very small number of Congressional seats. In the current 119^th Congress, Republicans hold 220 seats and Democrats 213.

If approved, Proposition 50 would replace California’s Commission-drawn maps with new Legislature-drawn maps – maintaining 52 total districts. These maps are projected to create five additional Democratic-leaning districts, thus offsetting Texas’ mid-cycle redistricting. They would apply beginning with the 2026 elections and remain in place until the Commission draws new maps after the 2030 Census. Proposition 50 also includes a symbolic provision calling on Congress to require “fair, independent, and nonpartisan redistricting commissions nationwide.” This has no legal effect but signals California voters’ support for national reform.

Marin County is currently entirely part of California’s 2^nd Congressional District, represented by Congressman Jared Huffman (D). Under the current map, CA-02 covers all of Marin and the North Coast. Under the Proposition 50 maps, CA-02 would continue to cover all of Marin, but a narrower swath of the North Coast, and the entire northern border of the state (all of Siskiyou, Trinity, Shasta and Modoc counties).

It is important to note that the special election will incur costs for local election offices. However, the Legislature and Governor allocated $250 million in the FY 2025-26 budget to fully cover these costs statewide.

POLICY FRAMEWORK: In the past two statewide elections, your Board has voted to take formal positions on eight of 11 statewide ballot measures, based on the Board-adopted Legislative Platform. While the current Legislative Platform does not speak directly to redistricting, it does emphasize fair representation, transparency, and equity in governance.

Staff recommends your Board consider a Support position for Proposition 50, based on the following:

• Since Proposition 50 was placed on the ballot in response to final approval of Texas’ redistricting, it can fairly be characterized as a response against partisan gerrymandering, not a permanent change to California’s nonpartisan process approved by voters in 2010. Proposition 50 keeps the Citizens Redistricting Commission in place for 2031 and beyond – reaffirming the state’s commitment to independent, nonpartisan redistricting in the absence of partisan action by other states.
• As highlighted in the recent informational report to your Board on H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act), the makeup of Congress directly affects billions in funding for Medi-Cal, CalFresh, housing, and disaster relief that directly benefit California – and Marin – residents.
• Though symbolic, the provision in Proposition 50 that calls on fair, independent and nonpartisan redistricting nationwide aligns with your Board’s principles of fair representation, transparency, and equity.

To date, the Boards of Supervisors in San Mateo, San Francisco, and Monterey Counties have adopted resolutions in support of Proposition 50. San Joaquin County voted down a support resolution (3–2). Siskiyou, Kern and Fresno Counties have formally opposed Proposition 50. More counties are expected to act in the coming weeks.

Arguments in Support: Proponents argue that because Texas’ mid-cycle redistricting is designed to add Republican-leaning seats, adopting Proposition 50 would maintain balance in a closely divided House by creating offsetting Democratic-leaning seats in California. They emphasize the measure’s temporary nature and point to its symbolic national call for independent commissions. Supporters include Governor Gavin Newsom, Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, House Democratic Leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Nancy Pelosi, and labor organizations including the California Labor Federation, California Teachers Association, and SEIU California.

Arguments in Opposition: Opponents argue that Proposition 50 undermines the integrity of California’s voter-approved Citizens Redistricting Commission, which was established to remove partisanship from the map-drawing process. They also contend California voters endorsed independent redistricting to ensure transparency and accountability, and mid-cycle changes set a precedent that could normalize sidestepping this process. Opponents include the California Republican Party, Republican legislative leaders, and former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

EQUITY IMPACT SUMMARY: The outcome of Proposition 50 could have direct consequences for representation in the U.S. House and, in turn, for major federal funding and policy decisions that affect some of Marin’s most vulnerable residents. Control of Congress determines the future of critical federal funding for programs such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food assistance, Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, and disaster relief. Many of these safety net programs disproportionately benefit low-income households, immigrant communities, and unhoused residents.

The recent H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) passed the House of Representatives 218-214, demonstrating that a shift of only a few seats can significantly alter national policy direction. H.R. 1 is expected to cost California nearly $30 billion in annual lost federal Medicaid revenue alone.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: While the Office of the County Executive does not do community engagement prior to informational reports to the Board of Supervisors on statewide ballot initiatives, the annual Legislative Platform process does include considerable engagement with partners and stakeholders.

Each fall, the Office of the County Executive reviews and updates the Platform to account for new policy developments and local priorities. All County departments, along with their Boards and Commissions, review and suggest revisions, which are incorporated into a draft for direct Board feedback. The draft Platform is also shared with key agency partners, including the Transportation Authority of Marin, Marin Transit, Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit, and Marin Clean Energy. This process ensures that the Platform reflects broad stakeholder input and remains responsive to the needs of Marin’s communities.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES: N/A 

CONTRACT RENEWALS AND PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES: N/A

CONTRACT RISKS: N/A

CEQA ANALYSIS: N/A

FISCAL, FACILITY & STAFFING ANALYSIS: The Legislature and Governor included $250 million in the final FY 2025-26 State Budget to fully cover costs of administering the November 4, 2025 Special Election at the local level. As a result, there is not expected to be an impact to the County General Fund as a result of this election.

In terms of representation, Marin County would remain in California’s 2^nd Congressional District under Proposition 50’s new maps, meaning no significant disruption is expected for residents or County departments in terms of navigating constituent services under a new Congressional office. No additional facility or staffing impacts to County operations are anticipated.

ALTERNATIVES: Instead of adopted a resolution in Support, the Board may choose to take No Position on Proposition 50. This approach would maintain neutrality, and County staff would continue to monitor outcomes and keep your Board apprised of updates.

Alternatively, the Board could take an Oppose position, reflecting concern that Proposition 50 may undermine California’s voter-approved Citizens Redistricting Commission and with a new precedent for mid-cycle redistricting.

APPROVED BY:

County Executive                   [X ] Yes or [ ] N/A
Department of Finance           [ ] Yes or [ ] N/A
County Counsel                      [ ] Yes or [ ] N/A
Human Resources                  [ ] Yes or [ ] N/A

SUBMITTED BY:

Talia Smith
Interim Deputy County Executive

REVIEWED BY:

Derek Johnson
County Executive