California Proposition 50: Unpacking the Costs of One of the State's Priciest Ballot Measures

With just five weeks remaining until election day, the intense battle over redistricting in California has become one of the state's most financially burdensome ballot measures in recent history. As of October 2, official campaigns for and against Governor Gavin Newsom’s Proposition 50 reported raising over $215 million, with September alone yielding more than $100 million—the third-highest for any proposition in the past decade. The financial outlay for Proposition 50 has only been surpassed by Prop. 22 in 2020 and Prop. 27 in 2022. Notably, Newsom's backing of Prop. 50 has attracted over $138 million, with nearly 40% derived from small donors. Major contributors include the House Majority PAC and George Soros’ Fund for Policy Reform. Opposition campaigns, with $77 million raised, rely heavily on just a few donors; the Congressional Leadership Fund alone donated $42 million. Non-affiliated groups are also making significant contributions, demonstrating the high stakes surrounding this measure.