Sacramento community shares views on redistricting

On Tuesday, Nov. 4, California will have its special state election on Proposition 50, which would change the congressional map of California in response to the Republican redistricting efforts in Texas.

Community members in Sacramento shared their views on the election and emphasized the importance of a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote.  

A ‘yes’ vote would mean new congressional maps will go into effect starting with the 2026 election, giving Democrats five additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. These maps would remain in place until after the 2030 census–which is when California typically redraws its congressional map

A ‘no’ vote would mean the existing maps, drawn by the independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission in the usual decade-cycle fashion, stay in place until the next redistricting process.

Ralph Ciphers is a Sacramento resident who campaigned at Sacramento City College Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Ciphers is unpaid, but is encouraging students to yes on Proposition 50. (Tony Rodriguez/CapRadio)

 

“It’s my habit to come here at election time in Sacramento City College and try to get young people interested in their political future themselves. I’m telling students that it is the California Democratic Party’s best attempt to try to send a message to President Trump along the lines of, don’t continue to mess with the congressional elections of next fall.”

Ciphers campaigned at Sacramento City College Tuesday Oct. 28, to encourage students to vote in support of Prop 50. Ciphers is an unpaid volunteer, and has also campaigned at the downtown farmers market.

Royce Hampton, 18, stands outside Sacramento City College on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Hampton said he plans to vote “yes” on Proposition 50 in California’s special election. (Tony Rodriguez/CapRadio)

 

“It’s bad to rig elections, and they shouldn’t be setting up gerrymandering in Texas to hurt Black communities because that’s just hurting voices to pass their agenda. I think California is in the right direction. I just turned 18, but I’ve been paying attention for a while. I feel empowered to vote, and if you have the opportunity, you should.

I saw a couple of ads on YouTube, but I already knew what it was for because I heard about the gerrymandering. It probably needs to be explained better because the ads didn’t go deep enough.”

Jameson Priebe, who recently moved to Sacramento from South Lake Tahoe, stands near a bus stop outside Arden Fair Mall on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Priebe said he voted “no” on Proposition 50. (Tony Rodriguez/CapRadio)

 

“I just [moved] from South Lake Tahoe. Prop 50 is basically to disenfranchise rural voters and continue the political genocide of more conservative-leaning rural areas in California. I believe Newsom wants to wipe out those areas. The city governments are overfunded, the bureaucrats are overpaid — they make $250,000 a year to deny people’s applications or extend permitting.

I already voted no on this, but I’m afraid of the direction California’s going. It’s a reverse of what Texas tried to do with redistricting, but way worse. The lawyers are going to make the money. It’s going to be challenged, maybe overturned, but what damage does it do in the meantime?

I feel very disenfranchised and like California doesn’t want people unless they’re super wealthy.”

Michael Grover, 31, of Citrus Heights, is a full-time student studying fire technology and health science in Rocklin. (Greg Micek/CapRadio)

 

“I think Prop 50 is kind of a double-edged sword. California being as diverse as it is, it has a lot of diverse ideas. We go Republican, Democrat, independent, and so on. The unfortunate thing is that California was put into a spot where we have to retaliate like this. Texas trying to restructure their districts so they can get more seats on the Republican side just doesn’t feel right or okay to me.

I kind of miss the old days of John McCain and Barack Obama, where there was a sense of bipartisanship between them. Now it’s just throwing as much dirt and mud around as humanly possible.

Personally, I’m voting yes on Prop 50. It sucks that we have to be put in this position.”

Donna Yider waits at a bus stop near Arden Fair Mall on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Yider, who is unhoused, said she mailed in her ballot and hopes her “yes” vote on Proposition 50 will be counted. (Tony Rodriguez/CapRadio)

 

“I voted. I mailed it in, but I’m hoping it goes through. We don’t want the government to take and do what we can do — that’s why we’re supposed to vote.

I voted yes [on Proposition 50]. I know it’s about changing the districts, because they’ve got too many Republicans in some and too many Democrats in others. If it gets us an even amount of voters on both sides — Democrats and Republicans — then we get a fair vote. But if they keep picking it where we end up with more Republicans, us poor Democrats are out.

I’m praying [it passes].”