‘We hope it loses’ vs. ‘a fighting chance.’ Stanislaus thoughts on Prop. 50
Support and opposition are emerging in Stanislaus County regarding Proposition 50. Local groups are taking positions on the Nov. 4 California special election on congressional redistricting.
Proposition 50 was presented in quick response to mid-decade redistricting in Texas, which removed five congressional seats held by Democrats at the request of the Trump administration. The redrawn maps in California would create five more Democrat-leaning congressional seats and suspend California’s independent redistricting commission until the next census.
Stanislaus County is one of the areas most affected by the potential redraw of congressional boundaries, and groups that represent the county have weighed in.
Against Proposition 50:
The Stanislaus County Republican Party and Stanislaus County Young Republicans have been canvassing against the proposition and providing lawn signs to residents, funded in part by Republican candidates for congressional District 13 and state Senate District 4.
Joel Campos, head of the Stanislaus County Republican Party, said he’s confident Proposition 50 will fail in the county. He’s been keeping an eye on early returns and noted an increase in Republican voter registration as of February.
“We believe in the independent redistricting commission, we believe that that process helps keep faith in the government, when there is very little at the moment,” Campos said. “Contrary to what some others are saying, we don’t believe that Prop. 50 will keep the government accountable.”
Tom Orvis, governmental affairs director for the Farm Bureau of Stanislaus County, said his group, like most farm bureaus, has taken a “No on Prop. 50” position because it dilutes rural representation.
“In the proposal, if you’re in Modoc County, what does Marin County have to do with the way Modoc County operates? They are two very different parts of the world with two very different sets of needs,” he said. “We hope it loses.”
Additionally, Stanislaus County Sheriff Jeff Dirkse and 36 other California sheriffs signed a letter opposing Proposition 50.
For Proposition 50:
The Stanislaus County Democratic Party has mirrored the California Democratic Party in its support of Proposition 50 and is encouraging its members to vote yes.
Lise Talbot, head of the Stanislaus Democratic Party, said the California Central Committee had many conversations over the past few months and decided to vote to support the proposition in reaction to Texas.
“They’re doing this without voter input – gerrymandering their congressional districts, and California is trying to level the playing field by redistributing our current congressional district maps a bit over the next two cycles,” Talbot said. “At the next census, it will go back to the redistricting commission that we have.”
The North Valley Labor Federation is canvassing, phonebanking and organizing for Proposition 50. The federation cited Texas’ redistricting as a threat to democracy and an attempt to destroy the labor movement.
Will Kelly, executive director of the North Valley Labor Federation, said California labor had a simple choice to react to partisan redistricting in other states: either surrender or fight back.
“Prop. 50 is the thing that can give us a fighting chance to flip control of the House of Representatives, so we’re all in,” Kelly said. “We are talking to our members, we’re talking to voters and we’re making sure folks get out to the polls and vote early and make sure they get their vote and it gets counted.”
On Oct. 16, the Modesto/Stanislaus branch of the NAACP issued a statement in support of Proposition 50, linking attempts to redraw districts in states like Texas, Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Indiana and Ohio as attempts to weaken Black and Latino voting power.
Wendy Byrd, president of the NAACP local chapter, said Proposition 50 strengthens fair maps by ensuring that communities of color are heard.
“We are trying to reach out so that everybody knows, because this is a much bigger picture and everyone is going to pay a price,” she said.
Texas is being challenged on its most recent redistricting plan on the grounds that it is racially discriminatory.
Neutral on Proposition 50:
The League of Women Voters, which is a nonpartisan political organization and has taken positions on ballot measures in the past, has decided to stay neutral on Proposition 50.
Amy Wolfe, president of the league in Stanislaus County, said though the group has an established position on redistricting, it is not taking a position this time. She said the Stanislaus league did not take into consideration the unique circumstances in which it was proposed and the league didn’t have time to follow its normal process.
“We just want to encourage voters to do their due diligence and ensure they understand what that ‘yes’ vote and that ‘no’ vote means and most importantly, to exercise your right to vote,” Wolfe said.
The Stanislaus County chapter held an informational session Oct. 7 on what Proposition 50 is and what changes it could make to the political landscape in the county.
Election day is Nov. 4, but votes are already being received through the mail. Early vote centers will begin to open on Oct. 25. For voters who have yet to register, the deadline has passed to receive a ballot in the mail, but California offers same-day registration at the polls.
It is recommended that voters who plan to mail their ballots on election day go to the post office to ensure they are postmarked before polls close, or they can drop their ballot off at any of the 11 countywide vote centers.
This story was originally published October 23, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
