By Sara Beth Williams–
Proposition 50, the only measure on the ballot for the 2025 Special Election, passed with 63 percent of the vote statewide and just over 61 percent in Sacramento County, according to voting results as of Nov. 6.
The measure authorizes new congressional district maps to take effect and remain in place through the 2026, 2028, and 2030 election cycles, until after the next U.S. Census.
The state legislature approved the new maps earlier this year in reaction to other states’ partisan redistricting efforts, with new maps creating additional Democratic-leaning districts in California during upcoming elections.
In Citrus Heights, many precincts to the northeast and northwest voted against the proposition, with an average of 300-500 voters participating in each precinct, according to Sacramento County election results.
Precincts that were located to the southwest and southeast voted in favor of the proposition, with the exception of one precinct in the southwest which voted against the proposition.
Ray Riehle, a Republican candidate running for Congress in District 6, criticized the measure’s approval and questioned why there had been limited discussion of the proposed maps and their potential impacts before the election.
“I think it’s a horrible thing,” Riehle said, noting that he’s not surprised the measure passed. Riehle observed that statewide support for Proposition 50 mirrored other recent political outcomes in California, including Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recall results and Vice President Kamala Harris’s strong showing in prior statewide votes.
Voting patterns varied across the region. Many counties west of Sacramento County supported the measure, while many to the east opposed it. In Placer County, 55 percent of voters opposed the proposition and 45 percent supported it, with a total of about 138,600 votes counted, according to CalMatters.
“I don’t think most people digested the profound changes to the maps,” Riehle said, adding that he believes the new boundaries dilute community representation. “People should have commonality in districts,” Riehle said.
Riehle shared renderings of both the current District 6 congressional district map and the redrawn version. Under Prop 50, the share of registered Democratic voters in District 6 will decrease slightly, while the proportion of registered Republican voters will increase.
While the re-drawn district reduces Democratic margins in District 6, the new map strengthens Democratic votes in neighboring Congressional District 3, where Republican Kevin Kiley will see his district shift from a four-point Republican leaning district to a 10-point lean in favor of Democrats, Ballotpedia shows.
The revised District 6 map includes a larger portion of Placer County, adding the cities of Roseville and Rocklin, which were previously not part of the district. Rancho Cordova and Rancho Murieta will be removed.
Each district throughout the state will continue to contain roughly the same population of about 760,000 residents. Riehle said that the new boundaries could make it more difficult for candidates and elected officials to engage with constituents.
Congressional District 6 currently includes Arden Arcade, Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks, North Natomas, Rancho Cordova, and South Natomas. The redrawn maps are not yet in effect.
The new congressional boundaries will be used by voters during the June 2026 primary and November 2026 general elections but will not officially take effect until January 2027, when the 120th U.S. Congress is sworn in, Riehle said.
A Citizens Redistricting Committee was originally established in 2008, with congressional maps being redrawn by the committee every 10 years based on updated population data.
Citrus Heights City Councilmember Porsche Middleton, who previously ran for Assembly as a Democrat, could not be reached for comment regarding the passage of Prop 50. Those in favor of Prop 50 have alleged that the congressional maps had to be redrawn to counteract Texas, and other Republican-led states, that have or are still pursuing redistricting in order to gain more favorable outcomes in the 2026 election.
California Republicans on Wednesday filed a federal lawsuit to challenge the legality of the maps in California.
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