Half of California voters back Newsom’s redistricting proposal
A recent Emerson College poll shows that just over half (51%) of California voters support Governor Gavin Newsom’s Proposition 50, a ballot measure on redrawing the state’s congressional districts in the upcoming November special election. This marks a significant increase in support from earlier polls in August, when only about a third backed the measure. The proposition aims to counteract Republican-led redistricting efforts in states like Texas and Missouri, which are seeking to gain additional House seats ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Among voters very likely to participate, support rises to 55%, with 35% opposed. Opinions on Proposition 50 are nearly split, with 51% seeing it as an excellent idea and 49% disagreeing. Supporters tend to view Governor Newsom positively, with 74% approving his job performance, whereas 82% of opponents disapprove of him. Newsom’s overall job approval stands at 46%,higher than former President Donald Trump’s 35%.
the poll also explored the impact of former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s vocal opposition to the redistricting plan. Around two-thirds of voters said his stance did not influence their opinion, while 22% felt more inclined to support the measure and 12% less inclined.
The survey was conducted between September 15 and 16 with 1,000 likely California voters and carries a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
Just over half of California voters back Newsom’s redistricting ballot measure
Slightly over half of California voters support Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ballot measure determining whether the state’s congressional districts are redrawn in the November special election.
A new Emerson College poll released on Friday shows 51% of voters saying they plan to vote in favor of Proposition 50 to help California fight against Republicans’ own redistricting efforts in Texas and Missouri. And 34% of respondents say they plan to vote no, while 15% remain undecided.
Support for Newsom’s redistricting plan is up nearly 20 points from early August, when the pollster found a third of voters backed the measure compared to a quarter opposed and 42% remained unsure. The legislation authorizing the special election didn’t pass the California legislature until late last month.
Among those “very likely” to vote on redistricting this fall, 55% plan to vote in favor and 35% plan to vote against.
Republicans started actively pursuing plans this summer to gain more House seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, prompting Democrats to respond in kind. California led the charge in countering Texas’s plan to flip five congressional seats held by Democrats. California is seeking to flip five Republican seats by next year. Missouri has since joined Texas in passing legislation approving the Trump-backed redistricting plan, positioning itself to gain one additional House seat.
Regarding California’s response, voters in the Golden State are nearly split in their opinions. Fifty-one percent believe Proposition 50 is a good idea, while 49% believe it is a bad idea. Unsurprisingly, the poll finds most voters who plan to vote yes think it’s a good idea (87%) and most voters who plan to vote no think it’s a bad idea (96%).
Additionally, a majority of voters who support the ballot measure view Newsom positively. The opposite is true of voters who oppose the ballot measure.
“Among voters who plan to vote in favor of Proposition 50, 74% approve of the job Governor Newsom is doing in office,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling. “Of those who oppose the measure, 82% disapprove of the job Newsom is doing.”
Newsom holds a 46% job approval rating overall, up from 44% last month. The governor is seen more favorably among his constituents than President Donald Trump, who holds a 35% job approval rating.
The poll’s release comes after former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger campaigned against Newsom’s redistricting plan at the University of Southern California this week. Respondents were asked whether Schwarzenegger’s opposition makes them more or less likely to support the measure.
SCHWARZENEGGER RAILS AGAINST NEWSOM’S PROPOSAL TO REDRAW CALIFORNIA’S CONGRESSIONAL MAPS
About two-thirds of voters said Schwarzenegger’s comments made no difference, 22% said it makes them more likely to support the proposition, and 12% said they were less likely to support it.
Emerson College conducted the poll between Sept. 15 and 16, surveying 1,000 active registered voters in California. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points.
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