Capitol insiders, records, and interviews point to redistricting consultant Paul Mitchell—working with congressional Democrats—as the key architect behind Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Prop. 50 map, while Planned Parenthood’s state arm publicly backs the campaign.
California voters will decide this fall whether to approve Proposition 50, a constitutional amendment that would replace the state’s current congressional boundaries with a Legislature-backed map through 2030.
The measure stems from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s so-called Election Rigging Response Act, pitched as a counter to Republican-led mid-decade redistricting in states like Texas. Under Prop. 50, the map-drawing authority would temporarily shift from the state’s Citizens Redistricting Commission to the Legislature before reverting in 2031.
Reporting from multiple outlets identifies Paul Mitchell, vice president of Political Data Inc. and head of Redistricting Partners, as the consultant behind the new maps.
“Mitchell … was tasked with coming up with the new maps just two weeks ago,” Capitol Weekly reported.
According to KCRA, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) submitted the proposed map to the Legislature. Reporters noted that the interactive version of the map was hosted on RedistrictingPartners.com, Mitchell’s firm.
Mitchell’s wife, Jodi Hicks, is the CEO and president of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. The group has formally endorsed Prop. 50 and pledged to support its passage.
“You take away our freedoms, we’ll take away your seats,” Hicks said at a rally launching the campaign, according to reporting from The 19th. Hicks declined to disclose how much the organization plans to spend on the measure but vowed that Planned Parenthood would “go all in”.
Republicans have sharply criticized the plan, calling it a partisan power grab.
“If you want to know what’s wrong with these maps – just take a look at them,” Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, told KCRA. “This is naked politics at its worst.”
Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) said he is confident voters will reject the measure.
“Make no mistake, I will win reelection,” Kiley said. “We will defeat Newsom’s sham initiative and vindicate the will of California voters.”
California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission, created by voters in 2008, most recently finalized maps in December 2021 to last through the decade. Prop. 50 would override only the congressional boundaries, while legislative and Board of Equalization maps would remain intact.
The measure will appear on the November ballot.
