Proposition 50, Thoroughly Explained

Bay Curious

KQED

History, Society & Culture, Places & Travel

4.9 • 999 Ratings

🗓️ 23 October 2025

⏱️ 21 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

California voters have one proposition on the ballot this November: Proposition 50. It's supporters want California to adopt a new congressional map that could give Democrats five more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, a counter to similar actions taken in Texas. Opponents say it's a step in the wrong direction for good governance, or are upset at the potential loss of Republican seats. We wade into the debate with KQED's Guy Marzorati. Additional Reading: ⁠Read a transcript of this episode KQED's Voter Guide ⁠Sign up for our newsletter⁠ Enter our ⁠Sierra Nevada Brewing Company monthly trivia contest⁠ Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to ⁠https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts⁠ This story was reported by Guy Marzorati. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Gabriela Glueck and Christopher Beale. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Holly Kernan, and the whole KQED family.

Transcript

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0:00.0	From KQED. Right now, voters are being called to the polls or in the era of mail-in ballots to their dining room tables to cast a vote in one single statewide election, Proposition 50. And the political ads are everywhere.
0:17.3	California, the whole nation is counting on you. Democracy is on ballot November 4th.
0:22.6	California voters stopped rigged elections with an independent commission led by citizens.
0:27.4	Prop 50 cancels this historic reform.
0:32.7	Proposition 50 would redistrict California with an eye towards the upcoming midterm elections.
0:38.3	And its sponsors don't mince words.
0:41.3	It's designed to give Democrats the best chance possible to pick up seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
0:47.3	Today on Bay Curious, we explore the ins and outs of Proposition 50.
0:53.3	By the end, you'll understand how district maps are drawn, the impacts this proposition would have
0:59.7	on the Bay Area, and how this Singleton proposition got on the ballot in a year when normally
1:05.1	we'd have a break from propositions.
1:07.3	Stay with us.
1:13.6	Support for Bay Curious comes from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.
1:17.7	From the legendary pale ale to hazy little thing, it's beer that always lives up to the moment.
1:23.5	Visit the beer aisle to taste for yourself.
1:26.1	Sierra Nevada, taste what matters.
1:29.0	Please drink responsibly.
1:30.5	This week on KQEDs, The Bay,
1:32.9	you may have gotten a ballot in the mail asking you to decide on Proposition 50,
1:38.6	which asks for permission to redraw our state's congressional districts until 2030.
1:45.1	We should have voters choosing our representatives.
1:47.3	We shouldn't have representatives choosing their voters.
	...

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