[October 14, 2025, Epoch Times] On the evening of October 8th, the South Bay Patriots, a patriotic group in the South Bay, held a rally at the Samaritan Crossing overpass in San Jose to protest against Proposition 50. Over a dozen people waved American flags and held signs saying “No on 50, Defend Fair Elections,” urging to defend fair elections and reject political manipulation.
The organizer of the event, Max, stated during an interview with Epoch Times that the purpose of the gathering was to remind voters to pay attention to Proposition 50 and Measure A of Santa Clara County in the special election on November 4th. He pointed out that while Proposition 50 may appear to be a reform, it actually undermines democracy by transferring redistricting power from the non-partisan California Citizens Redistricting Commission to politicians.
The California Citizens Redistricting Commission, established by voter initiative, consists of 5 Republicans, 5 Democrats, and 4 Independents, responsible for impartially delineating electoral districts.
“Now the state government wants to bypass it just because of Texas redistricting,” Max said. “But Texas’s situation has nothing to do with California. California is using Texas as an excuse to allow politicians to regain redistricting power, which would destroy fair elections.”
He criticized Proposition 50 for having a “misleading” ballot title, ostensibly maintaining the citizen redistricting mechanism, but in reality, a “yes” vote would hand the power back to politicians. He emphasized: “Politicians often say they want to save democracy, but Proposition 50 is actually ‘destroying democracy in the name of saving democracy,’ extremely hypocritical.”
Regarding Measure A, Max pointed out that the proposal would increase Santa Clara County’s tax revenues by $330 million annually, citing federal cuts in subsidies as the reason, but the actual reason is the high expenditure in healthcare and welfare for undocumented immigrants in California. “We already have a $13 billion deficit, and we should not increase taxes. Taxation should be a last resort, not the only option.”
He urged voters to “research the content of the proposals themselves, not just listen to one-sided arguments. The essence of democracy is for citizens to oversee the government, not for politicians to determine our fate.”
Participant Dave Graubart stated that the promotion of Proposition 50 and Measure A was “extremely deceptive,” so he stood on the overpass to make more people see the signs and understand the truth. He said, “The California Citizens Redistricting Commission is one of the few systems that works well. Proposition 50 will destroy this mechanism.” He emphasized that special election voter turnout is usually low, and every vote is crucial, so it is important to encourage people to bring their friends and family to vote.
Former candidate for City Council, Wendy Huang, expressed that if the public no longer trusts politicians, they should not hand power back to them. “The California Constitution clearly states that redistricting should be handled by a citizens’ commission. Politicians saying they will ‘temporarily’ take back power is not trustworthy, as they will never return it.” She stressed that voters should not give up participation due to disappointment, as “once the people retreat, the ruling class wins.”
Participant Cheryl frankly stated, “This is a power grab. If Proposition 50 passes, it could lead to a significant reduction in Republican seats, resulting in one-party dominance. If no one opposes, many people may unknowingly vote in favor.”
Participant Patty held an American flag while standing on the bridge. She expressed her hope to draw more attention to the future of the country through action. She said, “I love America and I love California. Although the current situation in California is concerning, I hope to make more people care about the future of our country and children through action.” She mentioned that she often attends city council and school district meetings, focusing on child safety and education issues, “If everyone remains silent, wrong policies will continue to spread.”
According to election data, Proposition 50 involves amending the California redistricting mechanism, potentially altering the role and authority of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. Supporters claim it can “enhance fairness,” while opponents believe it is “politicians seizing power.”
Santa Clara County’s Measure A advocates for raising sales tax to offset budget shortfalls and improve public services.