The Texas House has passed a new congressional map that will be adopted in the upcoming 2026 midterm election. A congressional district map shows how a state is divided into geographic areas, each of which elects one representative to the U.S. House of Representatives; these congressional maps are redrawn every decade according to population changes on the U.S. Census. Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, has decided to respond by proposing “The Election Rigging Response Act,” also known as Proposition 50. We understand the government response, but how is North Hollywood High School taking this information?
For background, Proposition 50 proposes a temporary pause on California’s independent redistricting commission, shifting the power to redraw congressional maps to the State Legislature. This legislative plan includes the: Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8 that allows Californians the ability to adopt a temporary Congressional map, Senate Bill 280 that establishes timelines/procedures to conduct a statewide election for this Act, and provides funding for the election, and finally Assembly Bill 604 which establishes the temporary Congressional District Maps that would take effect if other states engage in mid-cycle partisan redistricting.
Many of Newsom’s colleagues have decided to promote this proposition. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas says, “We are prepared and we will fight fire with fire.” The latter Dhillon Law group, backed by Republican lawmakers, has petitioned against this act but was rejected two days later. Mr. Shawkat, the STEM AP Government teacher at NHHS, expressed his concerns about where this may take the state of California on a moral stance, “As much as I consider myself a liberal, and I don’t like what they’re doing in Texas. I’m a really strong believer that two wrongs don’t make a right.” He believes that if this act is passed, it is a “short-term win” and contributes to the polarization of politics: “if you continue to fight fire with fire, the whole world burns down.”
As seniors of North Hollywood High School are getting closer to voting age, it is important to educate our students on political issues and how to create their own opinions. HGM teacher Mr. Bradbury, who teaches AP Government, describes his tactics, “It’s my intent to do a whole unit on gerrymandering, including the proposition and the situation in Texas and other states that develop a week or two prior to the election.”
When teaching history and current events, it is very easy to influence the opinions of students, as young minds are so
impressionable. SAS teacher, Mr. Barragan, an Honors Government teacher, says, “What I try to teach them (students) is how gerrymandering has been used by both parties historically to try to gain an advantage, and when you do that, you’re silencing the votes of many people.” North Hollywood teachers are preparing our students to make informed decisions and to curate their own opinions using what they have learned.
This Act places Californian voters at the center of a national redistricting debate. With Proposition 50 on the ballot, this upcoming election will be a major factor in partisan politics and could change the direction of our current administration. It is an urgent issue that will develop without action. All voters should take the time to educate themselves on the topic to make an informed decision when election day rolls around.
Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8:
https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ballot-measures/pdf/aca8-2025.pdf
California Senate Bill 280:
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB280
California Assembly Bill 604:
