Community members gathered on Sept. 29 at Salon Juarez in east Bakersfield for a town hall hosted by the Dolores Huerta Action Fund in support of Proposition 50, a ballot measure that would shift control of redistricting from an independent commission back to the state Legislature.
If Proposition 50 passes, it could make several Republican-held seats harder to win by adding more Democratic-leaning neighborhoods into those districts. In some cases, rural districts could be combined with suburban areas, shifting the political balance.
Rubi Gutierrez, community organizer for Dolores Huerta Foundation in the Fresno region, said Proposition 50 is a response to Republican-led redistricting in Texas, which could give the party five additional congressional seats.
The Texas lawmakers redrew boundaries so that areas with more Republican voters were added to districts that had been competitive, making it harder for Democrats to win.
Gutierrez said Proposition 50 is meant to stop that kind of gerrymandering in California and keep elections fair.
“Prop 50 is something that we are taking very seriously right now,” she said. “This is going to be a huge deal come November. We want to make sure that our rights are taken care of, that our families are taken care of, and one way we can do that is by showing up to the polls.”
Organizers explained that California’s temporary maps would last until 2030. Without the measure, they warned, California risks losing seats in Congress and political influence on issues like immigration, healthcare, and workers’ rights.
“If maps don’t reflect our communities, leaders who oppose immigrant families, workers, and social safety nets could gain more control,” Gutierrez said.
Community members shared personal stories about how policies affect their lives. One attendee, who recently gained residency through DACA, said ICE enforcement concerns were heightened by unbalanced power in Congress.
“It almost has extra constitutional power where it hasn’t really been checked,” he said.
Victor Gutierrez, another organizer for the Dolores Huerta Foundation, encouraged attendees to take action by registering voters, educating friends and family, and volunteering for canvassing.
“You are helping all the members who cannot do it by putting in the vote, by being their voice,” he said.
Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the Dolores Huerta Action Fund, also spoke at the event and said, “We need the power of the people to make sure our communities are represented fairly and our tax dollars are used to support families, not harm them. This is our chance to take action, spread the word, and protect California’s future by voting yes on Prop 50.”
The next town hall will be Friday, Oct. 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. at 414 4th Ave., Arvin, where residents can learn more about Proposition 50.
Ballots for the special election will be mailed Oct. 4, with Election Day set for Nov. 4.
