On Oct. 7, dozens of Las Positas College community members filled Room 1051 for an event organized by the LPC Law and Politics Club to discuss the hotly debated topic of Proposition 50. This event was created to educate community members about the measure—what it is, and what it means to vote yes or no.
The discussion centered on the upcoming statewide election on Nov. 4. Proposition 50 is a measure proposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to counter the mid-decade redistricting efforts in Texas and other Republican-majority states encouraged by President Donald Trump.
Due to the structure of California’s legislature, Prop. 50 requires voter approval to become law. The Law and Politics Club’s event provided students and voters with an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the measure.
The importance of educating students is something Joanna Jen, adviser to the Law and Politics club and LPC political science professor, takes seriously.
“The challenge of a special election is that it’s not built into my syllabus … but I do try to keep students aware of the news in general,” Jen said.
Despite the unpredictability of Prop 50 and the special election, Jen said she adapts the coursework to include current events, keeping her students engaged.
“You definitely can’t be taking one of my classes and not know about Prop. 50 right now,” Jen said.
The club invited Gerry Gire of Indivisible Tri-Valley to join Joanna Jen in answering student questions. The two speakers provided information about what Prop. 50 entails and the arguments for and against the ballot measure.
While club leaders spoke briefly, their efforts in organizing the event helped create a structure through which students could learn and participate. Jen discussed the history of gerrymandering in the United States, including terminology and district maps. Jen also spoke on the redistricting events in both California and Texas that led to Newsom’s push for Prop. 50.
“We’re going to try to give as much bipartisan information as we can in terms of what the factors are, who’s funding both sides, what the arguments on both sides are, what the outcome of both yes or no votes would be,” Jen said in an interview before the event.
Gire said funding Prop. 50 primarily comes from Democratic-aligned groups, while opposition comes from the Republican Party and California’s Republican House representatives. He also presented proposed maps that would take effect if Prop 50 passes. Both Gire and Jen noted that most Californians would not be directly affected by the changes.
The panel concluded with a Q&A session. One student asked, “How much will the special election cost?”
“$200,000,” Jen answered, citing the voter information guide.
Another student asked, “Are there any other democratic states doing gerrymandering to counter Texas?”
Both Jen and Gire said that question is central to the Prop. 50 debate. Currently, California is the only state moving to counter Republican-led redistricting efforts by redrawing its own district lines to favor Democratic majorities.
The purpose of the event was to provide accurate, nonpartisan information about the only proposition on the Nov. 4 special election ballot. For more details, government websites such as the Legislative Analyst’s Office offer comprehensive explanations of Prop. 50.
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TOP PHOTO: Joanna Jen educating about the history and reasoning of political redistricting on Oct. 7. Following this, Gerry Gire from the Indivisible Tri-Valley, an informational Q/A session regarding Prop. 50 and the upcoming special election. (Photo by Sam Barnes/The Express)
Musa Ashraf is the Arts & Entertainment Editor. Follow him on X, @MusaZash.
