REDDING, Calif. (AP) — In a stretch of Northern California known for farming, ranching, and a rural way of life, residents worry that a ballot measure to redraw U.S. House maps is all but certain to dilute what political power they possess in the heavily Democratic state.
If Proposition 50 passes, voters in three northern counties that strongly supported President Donald Trump in the last three elections would share a representative with wealthier and more liberal coastal communities. This could outnumber rural voters, making it unlikely for a Republican candidate to win.
“Most of us see it as massive gerrymandering, taking what little representation that we had away and now we’ll have absolutely nothing,” said Patrick Jones, a former Shasta County supervisor.
Voting on the measure concludes Nov. 4, aiming to create partisan U.S. House maps outside the regular decade-long redistricting managed by an independent commission. It's an initiative by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, intending to counter a Trump-supported strategy in Texas that aims to secure additional Republican seats. Newsom argues it's crucial for defending democracy, while California Republicans accuse it of being a power grab that will disenfranchise voters.
In Redding, bright yellow signs urging residents to defend fair elections dot the highway. A local man led a one-person protest in front of City Hall, with over 150 attending a rally against the perceived threat to their voices.
However, they face considerable challenges in a state with nearly twice as many registered Democrats as Republicans. Democrats have returned almost double the number of ballots, with substantial assistance from labor unions mobilizing volunteers in solidly blue areas like Los Angeles. Two weeks before Election Day, only about 7,000 ballots had been returned in Shasta County.
Rural Strongholds Brace for Political Change
Under the new maps, voters in Shasta, Siskiyou, and Modoc counties — conservative bastions in the rural north — would be combined with Marin County, close to San Francisco. Current district boundaries include farms prevalent in the area, characterized by crops like rice and various tree nuts.
LaMalfa, a rice farmer representing this region, opposes the proposition, investing campaign funds to educate voters about the measure and participating in physical rallies to show support against it.
Many residents, however, express concern about the potential lack of effort from national Republicans to contest the measure if it succeeds, fearing they may not expend necessary funds to retain their seats.
Voters Divided Over Proposition
Not all residents oppose the changes; some believe it may aid accountability toward local representation. Others, including previously supportive voters, express discontent with the district’s current representative and urge for a shift in political dynamics.
For the politically invested in Redding, the outcome can alter future electoral strategies and representational efficacy, with the uncertainty of voting turnout further compounding this anxiety.
