LOS ANGELES – Former President Barack Obama is warning Californians about the dangers of “unchecked power” in a new advertisement supporting Proposition 50, a ballot measure that would alter the state’s congressional redistricting process. The ad, released as mail ballots reach the state’s 23 million registered voters, features Obama connecting the proposition to broader concerns about democratic norms and the potential for abuse of power, referencing recent ICE raids as an example of policies “testing the nation’s values.”
Proposition 50 proposes a mid-decade partisan redistricting, potentially impacting five of California’s 52 congressional districts. Currently, California utilizes an independent commission, established by voters in 2010, to draw congressional boundaries-a system intended to end gerrymandering and foster more competitive elections. Supporters of Proposition 50, including state Democrats, argue a mid-decade adjustment is necessary to counter perceived imbalances.
Though, the measure faces opposition from figures like former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who championed the independent commission and actively campaigns against Proposition 50, calling it a step backward that favors politicians over voters.In ads, Schwarzenegger asserts the proposition would “take us backwards,” emphasizing that ”the Constitution does not start with ‘We, the politicians.’ It starts with ‘We, the people.'”
The debate over Proposition 50 is unfolding amidst significant financial investment, with more than $150 million contributed to supporting and opposing committees, alongside additional millions funding related efforts. Obama previously endorsed the ballot measure in august. he discussed concerns about testing national values on comedian Marc Maron’s podcast in october. The proposition’s outcome remains uncertain, intricate by the obscure nature of the topic and historically low turnout in off-year elections.
