Billionaire donor George Soros has reportedly contributed $10 million to support efforts in Governor Gavin Newsom’s district in California.
Newsom is linked to a fundraising campaign that has amassed around $70 million in a span of less than two months for Proposal 50, which aims to redraw the voting landscape in California this November. This could potentially flip up to five seats from Republican to Democratic control. This was first reported Friday by the New York Times. According to the NYT, Soros’ $10 million donation marks the largest funding for Proposition 50 thus far.
A representative for Soros mentioned in a statement to the NYT that, “this voting measure will temporarily alter the way district lines are drawn in California, providing voters the chance to influence the national stage.”
Soros has been known to spend heavily through his political network, consistently supporting various democratic initiatives. Former President Donald Trump has criticized Soros, stating in a late August post that he has “caused significant harm to the United States.”
In his post, Trump said, “Soros and his group of individuals have done a lot of damage to our country! This includes his radical West Coast associates. Take note, we’re watching you! Thank you for being cautious about this issue!”
If California voters approve Proposition 50, the proposal introduced in August by the Democratic-controlled state legislature will replace the existing district map created by the California Civic Constituency Commission. This new map, often labeled as a partisan Democrat gerrymander, specifically targets five Republican incumbents.
Some residents have expressed reluctance about participating in these redistricting efforts. One individual told the Daily Call News Foundation, “Absolutely not. I’m against it,” when asked about changes to California’s congressional map.
Despite this, a recent poll from Emerson College indicated that 51% of California voters are likely to support Proposition 50 in November, with 34% against it and 15% still undecided. Moreover, the Texas Senate recently approved a new congressional map that adds five Republican opportunities.
Neither Newsom’s office nor Soros’ Open Society Foundation responded to inquiries from the Daily Call News Foundation.
