Carl DeMaio Sues Rob Bonta Over Proposition 39 Ballot Title

Assemblymember Carl DeMaio and the Yes on 39 campaign filed a lawsuit in Sacramento Superior Court against California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber. The plaintiffs allege that Bonta's revised official ballot title for Proposition 39—a November measure requiring government-issued identification for in-person voting and citizenship verification—is biased and designed to discourage support. They argue the change violates California Elections Code 9051 by using prohibitive language.

Bonta changed the original title, which read "Establishes additional voter identification and citizenship verification requirements," to "Prohibits citizens from voting unless they present government-issued identification." DeMaio claims this is a blatant attempt to rig the election against a bipartisan solution. Bonta defended the revision as routine and more accurate, noting that his office revised titles for all nine qualifying voter-proposed initiatives this year.

Simultaneously, Democratic leaders have launched their own legal challenges. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limón filed a separate lawsuit arguing that Proposition 39's claims of making voting easier are false and that the ID requirements would instead hinder voter access. Other opponents, including gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra, have characterized the initiative as an attempt to suppress the vote. The Yes on 39 campaign is seeking a court ruling by August 10, before the state prints official voter information guides.