Why California voters approved a redistricting ballot measure, according to the AP Voter Poll

California Voters Approve Democratic Redistricting Despite Reservations, Poll Shows

Most California voters backed a controversial redistricting proposition aimed at sending more Democrats to Congress, even while expressing discomfort with the partisan strategy, according to a comprehensive AP Voter Poll of more than 4,000 California voters.

The ballot measure’s success highlights a pragmatic approach by voters who see the current political climate as requiring tactical compromises. Proposition 50, which allows California to redraw its congressional district lines outside of Census years, was framed by supporters as a necessary counter to similar Republican efforts in other states.

“Prop 50 is not about drawing lines on a map,” Governor Gavin Newsom told supporters before the vote. “It is about holding the line to what makes us who we are.” Newsom, a Democrat who has emerged as one of former President Donald Trump’s leading antagonists, positioned the measure as crucial for preserving democracy.

The AP Voter Poll revealed that approximately 9 in 10 California voters believe congressional district lines should ideally be drawn by non-partisan commissions. Yet a majority still supported the proposition to create new maps designed to send more Democrats to the House of Representatives.

This apparent contradiction stems from voters viewing the measure as a response to redistricting efforts in Republican-controlled states. President Trump has successfully pushed Texas, North Carolina, Ohio and Missouri to craft new congressional districts favorable to Republicans and has pressured additional states to do the same ahead of the midterm elections.

“The Unconstitutional Redistricting Vote in California is a GIANT SCAM in that the entire process, in particular the Voting itself, is RIGGED,” Trump wrote on social media, intensifying the partisan nature of the debate.

The poll showed that about 7 in 10 California voters consider party control of Congress “very important,” with these voters overwhelmingly supporting the constitutional amendment. California now has the opportunity to reconfigure its 52 House seats in ways that could potentially add five Democratic representatives to Congress in next year’s elections.

Broader voter discontent was also evident in the survey results. About half of California voters reported feeling angry about the country’s direction, with a similar proportion identifying the economy as the most critical issue facing the state. Many expressed frustration with unfulfilled promises to address inflation, while Trump’s import taxes have created confusion among businesses and consumers.

Democrats and voters who lean Democratic—who constitute a majority in California—voted overwhelmingly for the ballot measure. Notably, two-thirds of California voters stated they generally oppose states redrawing congressional district lines in response to other states’ actions, yet the majority of those who supported the proposition cited Republican redistricting efforts elsewhere as justification for their vote.

The findings suggest voters are making pragmatic choices in what they perceive as an extraordinary political moment. About half of California voters believe neither Republicans nor Democrats are handling redistricting fairly, indicating widespread dissatisfaction with the process across party lines.

This redistricting battle represents a significant shift in how electoral boundaries are determined, moving away from the traditional ten-year cycle tied to Census results toward a more responsive—and potentially more partisan—approach. Political analysts suggest this could accelerate an already intense gerrymandering arms race between the parties in battleground states.

The 2025 AP Voter Poll was conducted by SSRS from October 22 to November 4, surveying registered voters in California, New Jersey, New York City, and Virginia. The poll combined data collected from validated registered voters online and by telephone, along with in-person data from Election Day voters. The margin of sampling error for California voters is plus or minus 2.0 percentage points.