Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s name isn’t on the ballot this year, but California’s upcoming special election will likely hinge on how voters view him.
Newsom has made himself the face of California Democrats’ efforts to redraw their congressional maps in response to Texas Republicans’ mid-decade redistricting, investing his own political capital into his party’s efforts to win back control of the US House next year.
For supporters of Proposition 50, which would put in place new congressional maps that could give Democrats five additional seats, Newsom is a leader of one of the most substantive efforts to push back on President Donald Trump since he returned to office. Opponents instead frame the measure as a bid to consolidate Democratic power and boost Newsom’s resume ahead of a potential 2028 presidential run.
Both sides are betting on Newsom energizing partisans to vote in an off-year election that could have major implications on the midterms and the second half of Trump’s term.
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