"REDDING, Calif. -- In a stretch of Northern California known for farming, ranching and a rural way of life, residents worry a ballot measure to redraw U.S. House maps is all but certain to dilute what little political power they possess in the heavily Democratic state. If Proposition 50 passes, voters in three northern counties that went strongly for President Donald Trump in the last three elections would share a representative with some of the state's wealthiest and most liberal coastal communities."
"Voting concludes Nov. 4 on the measure, which would create partisan U.S. House maps outside of normal once-a-decade redistricting handled by an independent commission. It's an effort by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom to counter a Trump-backed plan in Texas to gain five more Republican seats. He says it's necessary to defend democracy, but California Republicans call it a power grab that will disenfranchise voters. Republicans currently hold nine of the state's 52 congressional seats."
Residents in Northern California farming and ranching communities fear Proposition 50 will dilute their political power by pairing conservative inland counties with wealthy liberal coastal areas. The measure would allow partisan U.S. House maps outside the independent, once-a-decade redistricting commission, an effort led by Gov. Gavin Newsom to counter a Republican plan in Texas. Republicans contend the plan disenfranchises voters and is a power grab. Rural protest and rallies have occurred, but Democrats outnumber Republicans in registration and have returned nearly twice as many ballots, with unions and Democratic allies mobilizing strong support.
Read at ABC7 San Francisco
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