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- The Times is tallying contributions to committees supporting and opposing Proposition 50 from now until the November special election.
- Billionaire Tom Steyer leads supporters with $12 million while Charles Munger Jr. donated $32 million to defeat the measure.
Proposition 50 would shift the state’s congressional district lines to favor Democrats. It is Gov. Gavin Newsom’s response to a similar effort in Texas designed to put more Republicans in Congress. The new district lines would override those created by the state’s nonpartisan, independent redistricting commission.
Supporters include Democratic politicians and party organizations and labor unions. Newsom has said that this is a needed step to counter President Trump and to protect Californians. Republicans oppose the measure, arguing that partisan maps would take the state backward.
Overall money
The Times is tracking contributions to committees specifically formed to support or oppose the measure. Some other individuals and committees have spent money in support or opposition, which The Times is including here as “outside spending.”
See how your neighborhood shifts under California’s proposed congressional district changes.
How money has flowed in over time
Since the proposal was announced in August, donations supporting the measure have poured in.
Biggest supporters
The Times is tracking contributions to the main fundraising committee supporting Proposition 50, which is controlled by Newsom. House Majority PAC, which aims to elect Democrats to the U.S. House of Representatives, is the top donor with more than $16 million. George Soros’ Fund for Policy Reform is second with $10 million. Labor unions are also major supporters.
The measure has received support from several business executive and philanthropist donors, including Michael Moritz, Gwendolyn Sontheim and Reed Hastings.
More than 102,000 donors gave $100 or more. About 14% of the total raised, $16 million, came from small-dollar contributors, or those who gave less than $100.
Separately, Tom Steyer, hedge fund founder and former presidential candidate, spent nearly $13 million on media production and placement in support of Proposition 50.
Billionaire Tom Steyer is now the biggest donor supporting Proposition 50, the November ballot measure that would redraw California’s congressional districts.
Biggest opposition
The Times is also tracking contributions to two main opposition committees. Most of the money to these groups has come from extremely large contributions from a handful of donors.
Charles Munger Jr., son of the former Berkshire Hathaway vice chairman, contributed more than $32 million to the Hold Politicians Accountable PAC.
More than 300 individuals or organizations gave $100 or more. Small-dollar contributions have made up $13,000 of the total raised.
The Congressional Leadership Fund has given $5 million to the Stop Sacramento’s Power Grab committee.
The California Republican Party has spent at least $10 million in opposition to Proposition 50.
Times staff writer Seema Mehta contributed to this story.
About this story
- Newsom’s Ballot Measure Committee, Yes on 50, The Election Rigging Response Act (#1380675)
- Yes on Prop 50, Sponsored by OC Action (#1483721)
- No on Prop 50 - Stop Sacramento’s Power Grab (#1483178)
- No on Prop 50 - Protect Voters First, sponsored by Hold Politicians Accountable (#1381029)
- Chinese Americans for the Constitution, No on Prop 50 (#1427809)
Other committees have been formed in support and opposition. Many have contributed to the main committees.
The code that the Times is using to download and process this data is published on GitHub.
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