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Topics: California, Politics, US News, Donald Trump
Ellie Kemp
Topics: California, Politics, US News, Donald Trump
California has just passed a new proposition which could see the Democrats tip the power balance in the House of Representatives.
Early results from Tuesday (November 4) show voters approved to redraw the US state's congressional boundaries, meaning five extra seats will be up for grabs in next year's mid-term elections. Dubbed Proposition 50, it was voted in by a margin of two to one.
If won by Democratic candidates, it could see the party take control of the House in 2026.
Currently, the House is run by Republicans, who have 219 seats compared to the Democrats' 213.
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A Democratic majority would make it more difficult for President Donald Trump to pass certain policies.
The fresh measure will overwrite lines drawn by an independent commission, with a map essentially favoring the Democrats in California.
It came in response to redistricting battles across the country, with Republicans redrawing boundaries in states including Texas, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio, reports Al Jazeera.
Mayor of California Gavin Newsom was successful in his campaign, then, to convince voters to redraw the state's congressional boundaries in a bid to fight back.
After the new measure was approved, he shared a video via social media, captioned: "Tonight California sent a powerful message to Donald Trump.
"We will fight for our democracy. And we will win."
Former President Barack Obama also supported the campaign, declaring: "Republicans want to steal enough seats in Congress to rig the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years. You can stop Republicans in their tracks."
Naturally, Trump was quick to hit back at the move.
Taking to Truth Social, he called it a 'giant scam' and claimed the move was under 'legal and criminal review.'
"The Unconstitutional Redistricting Vote in California is a GIANT SCAM in that the entire process, in particular the Voting itself, is RIGGED," he wrote.
"All 'Mail-In' Ballots, where the Republicans in that State are 'Shut Out,' is under very serious legal and criminal review. STAY TUNED!"
It's not the first time Trump has threatened legal action over the proposed new boundaries.
"I think I'm going to be filing a lawsuit pretty soon, and I think we're going to be very successful," Trump told reporters back in August.
"We're going to be filing it through the Department of Justice, that's going to happen."
The new lines ushered in by Proposition 50 are set to remain in place throughout the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections.
After, the citizens commission will take over redistricting responsibilities, NPR reports.