New ballot initiative may prevent California lawmakers from seeking office if they supported Prop. 50

California lawmakers who voted in favor of Proposition 50 could be barred from running for public office for up to 10 years under a proposed ballot initiative.

The measure, formally titled the “Eliminates Right of Legislators Who Voted for Temporary Changes to Congressional District Maps in Response to Texas’ Partisan Redistricting to Hold Specified Offices for 5–10 Years Initiative Constitutional Amendment,” would prevent legislators from holding certain offices after their current terms if they supported Prop. 50.

Under the proposal, lawmakers would be prohibited from holding elective office for 10 years and from serving in appointive positions, as legislative staff, or in other specified state offices for five years.

In August, KCRA 3 reported that both of California’s legislative leaders could secure seats in the U.S. House of Representatives if voters approve Prop. 50.

Republican Assemblyman Carl DeMaio is a proponent of the proposed ballot initiative.

Prop. 50 would override the state’s independent redistricting commission for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections. The commission, approved by voters through ballot measures in 2008 and 2010, was designed to remove politics from the process, which is typically conducted every 10 years using U.S. Census data.

Under the plan, the commission would remain in law but lose authority – at least temporarily.

Supporters argue that the measure is necessary to counter partisan gerrymandering in GOP-led states. Opponents, however, argue it amounts to gerrymandering itself, returning power to politicians after voters had deliberately removed it.

A “yes” vote on Prop. 50 would allow the Legislature to implement new district maps for the next election cycle. A “no” vote would preserve the current maps drawn by the Citizens Redistricting Commission until new lines are created after the 2030 Census.

The ballot initiative will need 874,641 signatures from registered voters by April 20, 2026, to qualify for the November 2026 statewide ballot.