AOC appears in Newsom-backed Prop 50 ad as California redistricting fight goes public
Gov. Gavin Newsom posted a paid "Yes on 50" ad starring Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez — including a Spanish‑language version — urging Californians to "fight for democracy," a move that drew criticism from state Republicans for featuring an out‑of‑state Democrat and prompted opposition from Arnold Schwarzenegger. The proposal, which Newsom has raised roughly $70 million to back (including a $10 million contribution from the Soros family and total spending expected to exceed $200 million), would authorize temporary changes to congressional maps to produce five additional Democrat‑friendly House seats — a rare and controversial bid to override the voter‑approved independent redistricting commission that explicitly cites recent Texas GOP mapmaking.
📰 Sources (3)
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appears in a paid 'Yes on 50' ad endorsing Prop 50 and urging Californians to 'fight for democracy' by voting yes.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom posted the video and it garnered over 2 million views within 24 hours of posting.
- A Spanish-language version of the ad was produced; the ad was paid for by the Yes on 50 campaign.
- Immediate political reactions: the California Republican Party criticized Newsom for using an out-of-state Democrat (AOC) to influence Californians, and former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is publicly opposing the Democrats' redistricting push.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom has raised roughly $70 million in less than two months to support California’s Prop 50 redistricting measure.
- The Soros family contributed $10 million, making it the single largest donation backing the measure.
- Total spending on the fight is expected to exceed $200 million.
- Contextual update: President Trump has called for investigations of George and Alex Soros amid his broader push against political opposition.
- Ballot title text: "AUTHORIZES TEMPORARY CHANGES TO CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAPS IN RESPONSE TO TEXAS' PARTISAN REDISTRICTING. LEGISLATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT."
- Secretary of State: no court-ordered changes or challenges to the language.
- Measure aims to create five additional Democrat-favorable U.S. House seats in California, mirroring Texas GOP’s reported five-seat boost.
- Experts say it’s "extremely rare" to override a voter‑approved independent redistricting commission and to reference another state in a ballot title.
- Context: Texas Republicans recently redrew their map at Trump’s request; Missouri just approved a new map; other GOP-led states may follow.