California Voters Cast Midterm Ballots Amid Redistricting Dispute

California voters will cast ballots on November 3 in midterm elections that serve as a referendum on the second term of Donald Trump. A primary focus of the election is the use of new congressional district maps created through Proposition 50. This partisan redistricting initiative, approved in 2025 and proposed by Gavin Newsom, was designed as a retaliatory measure against Republican-led states to help the Democratic Party gain at least five House seats.

Competitive congressional races include the 22nd district, contested by David Valadao and Randy Villegas, and the 48th district, which became open following the retirement of Darrell Issa. In the race for governor, Democrat Xavier Becerra maintains a significant lead over Republican Steve Hilton.

Beyond candidate races, voters are deciding on several high-profile ballot initiatives. Proposition 40 proposes a one-time tax on billionaires to fund education and healthcare, a measure that has faced heavy opposition from Governor Newsom, Xavier Becerra, and Steve Hilton. Google cofounder Sergey Brin donated over $102 million to defeat the tax. Additionally, voters will decide on Proposition 39, which would require government-issued identification for voting.