Supporters of Proposition 50 widely outnumber opponents of the redistricting measure

Backers of Proposition 50, the amount California Democrats have voted to redraw the state’s congressional districts to help the party’s bid to gain control of the U.S. House of Representatives, have more than quadrupled the amount their rivals have raised in recent weeks, according to campaign finance reports filed with the state by the three main campaign committees.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s committee supporting the restructuring measure raised $36.8 million between Sept. 21 and Oct. 18, bringing the total to $114.3 million, according to a report filed Thursday with the secretary of state that was not available as of Monday. That left $37.1 million in the bank and available to spend before the Nov. 4 special election.

“We have met our budget goals and raised what we need to pass Proposition 50,” Newsom emailed supporters Monday. “You can stop donating.”

The two main opposition groups raised a total of $8.4 million during the 28-day fundraising period, bringing their total spending to $43.7 million. They had $2.3 million in cash on hand at the end of the campaign.

“As Gavin Newsom likes to say, we’re not running the 90-yard dash here. We’ve seen a groundswell of support from the people of California who know what’s at stake if we let it. [President] Hannah Milgram, spokeswoman for the original Proposition 50 campaign, said Trump stole two more years of unaccounted power. “But we are not taking anything for granted or taking our foot off the gas. If we want to hold this dangerous and reckless president accountable, we must pass Proposition 50.

Newsom and other California Democrats decided to ask voters to redraw the state’s congressional boundaries, which are currently drawn by an independent voter-approved commission, redrawing mid-decade after Trump asked GOP-led states to redraw their districts to keep Republicans in control of Congress in next year’s elections.

The balance of power in the narrowly divided House will determine whether Trump can continue to implement his agenda during his final two years in office, or become the focus of investigations and possibly impeachment efforts.

Major donors supporting Proposition 50 include billionaire financier George Soros. House Majority PAC, the campaign arm of congressional Democrats; and labor unions.

Among Proposition 50’s opponents, top donors include longtime GOP donor Charles Munger Jr., son of billionaire Warren Buffett’s investment partner; and the Congressional Leadership Fund, the political arm of House Republicans.

“While we spend more, we continue to face the risks of delaying the California gold standard reset process with California,” said Amy Toma, a spokeswoman for the Munger-funded committee. “With only 10 days left, we encourage all voters to make their voices heard and vote.”

Eli Hockenbury, an adviser to the committee, which received $5 million from the Congressional Leadership Fund, said the organization is committed to continuing to raise money to block Newsom’s redistricting efforts in the final days of the election.

“His precious power grab will silence millions of Californians and deny them fair representation in Congress, which is why grassroots opposition is accelerating,” Hockenbury said. “In the final push, our data-driven campaign is strategically targeting key voters with our message to ensure every resource helps us defeat Pro. 50.”

There are many other committees not affiliated with these main campaign groups that receive funding. These include one created by billionaire hedge fund founder Tom Steer, who contributed $12 million, and the California Republican Party, which received $8 million from the Congressional Leadership Fund.

These reports come shortly before the November 4 election. More than 4 million mail ballots — 18% of ballots mailed to California’s 23 million voters — had been returned as of Friday, according to a vote tracker run by Democratic redistricting expert Paul Mitchell, who drew the proposed map on the ballot. Democrats lead Republicans in the popular vote, 51% to 28%. Voters who registered without a party preference or with other political parties returned 21% of the votes received.

Polling numbers worry Republican leaders.

“If Republicans don’t get out and vote now, we will lose Prop 50 and Gavin Newsom will control our district lines until 2032,” Orange County GOP Chairman Will O’Neill wrote to party members on Friday, urging them to vote by the end of last week and share the locations of the first polling stations in the country.

Assemblyman Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego) has been tough on social media.

“Right now we’re losing the fight against Prop 50 in CA, but the turnout is down,” he posted on social media platform X on Friday. “If every Republican voter gets out of their mouth, returns their vote and doesn’t vote, we win. It’s, it’s that simple.”

More than 18.9 million votes remain, although not all will be completed. Early voting centers opened in 29 California states on Saturday.

“Think of Election Day as the last day to vote — not the only day. As we always do, California is giving voters more days and more ways to participate,” Secretary of State Shirley Weber said in a statement. Don’t delay, vote today!

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday that it plans to monitor polling sites in Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties at the request of the state GOP.

“Transparency in elections transforms trust in the electoral process, and the Ministry of Justice is committed to maintaining high standards of election transparency,” said Ati. General Pam Bondi said. “We will commit the necessary resources to ensure that the American people have the fair, free and transparent elections they deserve.”

Newsom said in a post on X on Friday that the Trump administration is sending election observers to polling places in California as part of a broader effort to curb voting before next year’s midterm elections.

“This is about voter intimidation. This is about voter suppression,” Newsom said, predicting that masked border agents will be present at California polling places in the Nov. 4 election. “I hope people understand that this is a bridge they’re trying to build across the country in elections next November. They don’t believe in fair and free elections. Our republic, our democracy, is on the line.”