Proposition 50 overwhelmingly passed, an amendment to the state constitution that intentionally gerrymanders congressional districts in favor of the supermajority Democrats here in California. California voters may have believed they were protecting democracy. But in truth, democracy thrives on competition, representation, and accountability, and the passage of Prop 50 potentially undermines all three nationwide by lighting the fuse for gerrymandering to become the norm in between census cycles.
Most large blue states like Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and all New England are already gerrymandered to the edge. What’s left are the red “flyover” states. They’ll follow suit. Gerrymandering will become a continuous, bipartisan arms race where every district is engineered and almost every election is predetermined.
Senator John Kennedy said on the Senate floor in November:
“President Trump was duly elected President of the United States, in a free election, and the American people spoke. Some of my colleagues are upset about that. In fact, they hate him so much that they shut down the government. They hate him so much that if President Trump came out in favor of breathing to live, they would hold their breath.”
That, in essence, is what Proposition 50 was about. As CNN commentator Michael Smerconish said on Real Time with Bill Maher (September 26), “The only thing the Democratic Party stands for today is opposition to Donald Trump.”
An entire movement seems more invested in seeing the President fail than in seeing America or California succeed.
That special election saw only 43 percent voter turnout. Proposition 50 passed with less than a majority of registered voters, handing the legislature the power to draw congressional maps, bypassing California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission and effectively forfeiting democracy in this state.
Put this in perspective: within a few months, rushed legislation and a minority of registered voters amended the state’s constitution.
You can’t even get a county permit approved in that timeframe. That’s the behavior of a banana republic, not the world’s fifth-largest economy.
Republicans could have stopped it. With a full turnout, the math is straightforward. Yet only 44 percent of Republicans voted. It doesn’t get much easier than filling in one circle, signing the envelope, and dropping it in the mailbox.
Democrats branded their campaign “Save Democracy from Authoritarianism - Vote Yes.” Ironically, that “Yes” vote eliminated a model state democratic process.
What happened to better ideas, better leaders, better platforms?
Market strategists in today’s online media state that you have three seconds to gain attention. California Democrats successfully targeted those three seconds with the YES ON 50 campaign, while the California GOP’s strategy was unclear and confusing.
My Three Seconds – You Must Vote!
During an election, the focus should be on participation, not suppression. Concerns about election integrity can and should be addressed through reform efforts, not by discouraging people from voting.
Many conservatives or their household members didn’t vote. This needs to be stated loudly for the conservatives in the back that are always the voices saying the votes are rigged; three million Republicans did not return a ballot.
California is the worst in unemployment, job creation, poverty, homelessness, cost of living, cost of housing, gasoline cost, and energy costs. The state has a D rating from ASCE for infrastructure, and 65% of our children are not meeting education standards.
And yet, the same people keep getting reelected.
If conservatives continue to sit on the sidelines, change will not happen in the correct direction. We will continue to drift towards the Mamdani world. That’s the end state in Coastal California. The inept incumbents in office here will eventually be replaced by radical socialists like Mamdani to address “affordability.”
It would be ideal to have competition for better candidates, city councils and boards equally populated to drive compromise and innovative ideas.
If common-sense liberals here also don’t start voting for change, there will come a day when they are fined for not renting out spare bedrooms or forced to give up property for high-density low-income housing.
Think that’s a joke?
Talk to some of the radicals already in office here, or the DSA members running for city councils in the next election. When we have five Mamdanis on every city council and the county board, it’s over here on the Central Coast, and you might be looking at Florida just like New Yorkers are right now.
We Can Send a Message from the Central Coast
Nancy Pelosi, after 38 years in office, announced her retirement last November. She has been a political powerhouse for Democrats in California. She’s in the old guard establishment and has recently lost control of the far-left wing of her party, which now belongs to the AOCs. Their Queen is now entirely off the board.
Pelosi’s exit creates an opening. Salud Carbajal, her 24th District rubber-stamp and DNC slush fund, who hasn’t passed a single standalone bill, aside from renaming a post office, in five terms, is vulnerable. Proposition 50 redistricting also removes some Democrats from this district.
Republicans now only have four red districts left in California after Prop 50. But here’s the kicker - the gerrymandering now pits some of the Republican incumbents against each other. This gives the Central Coast an enormous opportunity to make a splash. If 80% of Republicans vote in the midterm, based on historic midterm turnout, we could be one of the few CA congressional districts to top a primary. This would immediately draw national media, party, and donor attention post-Proposition 50. This will benefit every race in the county.
But…
…You Must Vote!
We must be in this together. We must support quality candidates for races that will make a difference. Chip in $24 bucks. Knock on 24 doors every Saturday. Call 24 of your friends. Host a backyard BBQ for 24 people.
I will show up to all of them.
When your ballot arrives in May, vote on the first day and track it online. You can sign up for text and email updates for your ballot status. Convince 24 other people to do the same.
This level of activism will support the Governor’s race and all down-ballot races at the state and county levels. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction can win outright in a primary with over 50% of the vote. Sonja Shaw could be the first Republican since 1963. Imagine having a common-sense soccer mom leading the public schools and the impact that could have.
We can make a difference.
You must get into the game.
You must vote!
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Bob Smith is a retired Navy veteran and candidate for California’s 24th Congressional District. During his 26 years of active service, he participated in several combat tours supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). He has held various leadership roles in Washington, D.C., with a focus on major defense acquisition programs. www.bobsmithforcongress.com
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In addition to sharing your insights in the comment section, please consider casting your vote as to why local Republicans don’t return their ballots in numbers sufficient to sway elections.
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Strong piece, Commander Smith. Whether people agree or disagree politically, your central point about participation is absolutely right — democracy only works when citizens actually engage. Turnout matters. Organization matters. Accountability matters.
I especially appreciate the focus on competition and civic involvement at the local level. Regardless of party, we should want districts that encourage real debate, better ideas, and responsive leadership. Encouraging people to vote early, track their ballots, and get involved beyond just posting online is a message that transcends party lines.
Civic engagement isn’t optional — it’s the foundation. Thank you for stepping into the arena and encouraging others to do the same.
Bob Smith is an excellent pick and I support him. We need him to represent us, he has the intellect that has been lacking. Let’s get to work and get him elected.