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Voters in Sacramento got a mailer in recent weeks declaring that “California’s landmark election reform — under attack by Sacramento politicians.” Orinda residents have received flyers that shout “Fight back against Trump — Vote Yes.” The narrator on a video ad shared on X intones, “Two wrongs don’t make a right — Vote No.” These are among a barrage of advertisements, yard signs and billboards bombarding Californians with direction to support or oppose redrawing the state’s congressional districts four years ahead of schedule.
But none of it was paid for by the major campaigns advocating for and against Proposition 50, the ballot measure put forth by Gov. Gavin Newsom to counter Republican redistricting efforts in Texas. Instead, nonprofits, political parties and a billionaire have financed an independent effort as election day approaches Tuesday.
Groups not directly affiliated with any Prop. 50 campaign have reported spending nearly $26 million to influence voters as of October 30, more than any ballot measure in California history, according to a CalMatters analysis of secretary of state campaign finance data. The spending does not include the $118 million reportedly spent by the three major campaign committees.
Proposition 50 has been the subject of more independent expenditures than any previous ballot measure
| Proposition | Year | Total Independent Expenditures |
|---|---|---|
| Prop. 50 | 2025 | $26M$26M$26M |
| Prop. 32 | 2012 | $10.8M$10.8M$10.8M |
| Prop. 76 | 2005 | $10.3M$10.3M$10.3M |
| Prop. 75 | 2005 | $8.8M$8.8M$8.8M |
| Prop. 86 | 2006 | $7.6M$7.6M$7.6M |
| Prop. 77 | 2005 | $7.2M$7.2M$7.2M |
| Prop. 74 | 2005 | $6.8M$6.8M$6.8M |
| Prop. 93 | 2008 | $6.5M$6.5M$6.5M |
| Newsom Recall | 2021 | $4.3M$4.3M$4.3M |
| Prop. 36 | 2024 | $2.5M$2.5M$2.5M |
Table: Jeremia Kimelman, CalMattersSource: CalMatters analysis of California Secretary of State dataEmbed
Anybody can buy ads, pay canvassers, or otherwise promote their position on a California ballot measure as long as they register a state committee, disclose major funders in the ads themselves and don’t coordinate with the primary campaigns. Once they’ve spent at least $1,000, they must report their spending to the secretary of state as independent expenditures.
Independent spending for the redistricting measure is significantly more than the previous record-setting Prop. 32 in 2012, which drew $10.8 million in similar spending and would have restricted campaign contributions from labor unions if it passed.
The largest spenders outside of the major campaigns this time are billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer, who reported more than $12.8 million in expenditures and the California Republican Party, which poured more than $10.2 million into ads and messaging opposing the measure. As a result, Steyer and the state GOP have become the second- and third-largest independent ad buyers in state history. The only group to have spent more was run by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “California Dream Team,” which reported spending a combined $27.8 million on multiple ballot measures in 2004 and 2005.
In yet another example of how the campaign has drawn national attention, Congressional Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC, gave $8 million to the state GOP in October, which they used to buy nearly $2.9 million worth of digital ads two weeks ago; the super PAC also gave $5 million directly to one of the major campaigns against Prop. 50 — “Stop the Sacramento Power Grab.”
Thanks to the recall, Newsom was able to keep a lot of the money raised. He sees passage of Prop 50 as his “proof” that he is the Democrat answer to fighting “orange man.”
If Prop 50 passes, it means that Republicans in the state don’t vote Republican, they voted Trump. I hope I am wrong and that there is a surge of Republicans who are voting now that voting centers are open.
But if Prop 50 passes, it will also mean that California should be considered a lost cause. Let’s say we get either Steve Hilton or Sheriff Chad Bianco into the general election, they will still lose to the Democrat. In fact, Democrats prefer to have ONE Democrat candidate versus a Republican candidate because they can then sleep through the general election (as Adam Schiff did with Steve Garvey in the senatorial election).
As someone who has called California home since the late 1970s, it is very sad to see the state become a third-world entity in many places. Not everywhere, but in many of its large cities. And the lunatics continue to vote Democrat …
IF this POS idea passes, an UNconstitutional one at that, it means that ONCE AGAIN, Newscum had help from those who own the machines AND count the votes. Don’t vote early – vote on Tues – that way they don’t know how many votes they have to counteract!!!!
Grifter saving for his nonconsequential Presidential run in 2028. An inept and complete flaccid failure who has denigrated California they should pull the Olympics from this state and award to another. Newsom is a progressive, Marxist, narcissist who should be put out to pasture. He does not belong in government unless it is a George Soros ANTIFA warrior who wants to dismantle America and capitalism from within without firing a bullet. They hate capitalism and yet they have gained their millions/billions from it. Good for me but not for you. As that old hag Klaus Schwab said, “you will have nothing, and you will be happy”. Wasn’t the idea of America to escape old hags like him?
Tell Newscum just how stinkin’ we all believe him to be!!! He is the lowest of the low – lower than a snake’s belly.
Remember – when you vote on Prop 50, you can actually tell him just where you would like to see him. Personally – I’d like to see him and his cohorts – Harris, shittySchiff, Piglosi, and a few others BEHIND BARS!!!!!!
no on 50
JUST THE BEGINNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!