To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Executive’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Will Tesconi, Legislative Analyst, 707-565-4736
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Proposition 50 - Letter of Support
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the Chair to sign a letter of support for Proposition 50: Authorizes Temporary Changes to Congressional District Maps in Response to Texas’ Partisan Redistricting Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
end
Executive Summary:
Across the country, states are considering redistricting in advance of the congressional midterm elections on November 3, 2026 as reported by National Public Radio (NPR) on September 12, 2025. <https://www.npr.org/2025/09/14/nx-s1-5538407/after-missouri-what-state-is-next-a-redistricting-race-started-by-trump-continues>
On November 4, 2025, California voters will consider Proposition 50 which, if approved, would redraw the congressional boundaries as provided in Assembly Bill (AB) 604.
This item seeks Board approval for the Chair to sign a letter of support for Proposition 50.
Discussion:
In 2008, California voters approved Proposition 11 creating the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. The California Citizens Redistricting Commission is 14-member Commission made up of five Republicans, five Democrats, and 4 not affiliated with either of those two parties. The California Citizens Redistricting Commission must draw the district lines in conformity with strict, nonpartisan rules designed to create districts of relatively equal population that will provide fair representation for all Californians. In 2010, California voters approved Proposition 20 which transferred congressional redistricting authority to the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. The California Citizens Redistricting Commission drew the current congressional districts which are to be used for elections from 2022 through 2030.
On August 21, 2025, the California Legislature approved Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA) 8 <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260ACA8> which comes before California voters as Proposition 50 in a special election on November 4, 2025.
If approved by voters, Proposition 50 would replace the current congressional districts, drawn by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission in 2021, with the congressional districts provided in Assembly Bill (AB) 604 <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB604> of the 2025-26 Regular Session. The district boundaries from AB 604 would be used for every congressional election, 2026 through 2030, until the new congressional boundary lines are drawn by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission in 2031.
If voters do not approve Proposition 50, the current congressional districts would remain in use, as drawn by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission in 2021, through 2030. Currently, regardless of the electoral outcome of Proposition 50, the California Citizens Redistricting Commission will redraw the congressional district boundaries in 2031 for the 2032 election.
Strategic Plan:
n/a
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
November 12, 2024: Board adopted the Sonoma County 2025 Legislative Platform and approved the Sonoma County Legislative Affairs Program and Sonoma County Strategic Grant Program policies <https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7011955&GUID=AC562CFC-F921-4D89-8BEB-684A356FE507>
May 9, 2023: Board approved 2023-2024 State and Federal Legislative Platform <https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6196039&GUID=69951154-FE03-436E-B231-040EE9559B9A&Options=&Search=>
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
N/A
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Letter of Support for Proposition 50
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.