Watch: Gavin Says It's Time for Democratic "Hardball." Barabak Says Governor's Special Election Ploy is a Dangerous Game

L.A. Times political columnist returns for a conversation about California's role in the raging national political war over redrawing maps for House districts in advance of crucial mid-term elections

A spate of slick, color pamphlets attacking Proposition 50, the one and only measure on the ballot of a Nov. 4 emergency special election called by Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic allies, this week began cramming mailboxes on the Central Coast and throughout California.

The mailers are the first tiny droplets of what soon will become a $100 million-plus torrent of advertising, agitprop, misinformation, disinformation, spin and lies about the initiative, a major battleground in the nationwide political war that erupted over the summer, as Donald Trump schemes to deny Democrats victory in the crucial 2026 mid-term elections for control of Congress.

As the roar of argument, counter-argument and counter-counter-argument grows louder and more confusing over the next 67 days, just remember this: Trump started it.

On a special, emergency (Emergency! Everybody to get from street!) episode of Newsmakers TV, Los Angeles Times star political columnist Mark Z. Barabak returns for a conversation that navigates the extraordinary origin story and complex policy and political cross-currents of Prop. 50.

The measure represents at once a brash, tactical effort by Newsom to advance a possible 2028 bid for president, as well as a bold strategic move on behalf of a broad, national pro-democracy coalition to check Trump’s brazen attempt to remake the rules of the 2026 mid-terms — via the flagrant gerrymander of congressional districts by Republican allies in Texas, designed to hand the GOP five more House seats.

“It’s basically saying, ‘Texas, you stole five seats from us,” Barabak said of the ballot measure. “We’re going to steal five from you.”

Subscribe to Mark Barabak’s as-it-happens newsletter on politics here, and check out our conversation with him via YouTube below, or by clicking through this link. Listen to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or on Soundcloud here. TVSB, Channel 17, airs Newsmakers TV every weekday at 5 p.m., and at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. KCSB, 91.9 FM, broadcasts the program at 5:30 p.m. on Monday.

Further reading and viewing:

“Gavin Newsom’s redistricting plan is on its way to voters. What you need to know.” — Maya C. Miller and Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters.

“How California Dems bluffed their way into a gerrymandering showdown” — Dustin Gardiner and Blake Jones, Politico.

“Gavin Newsom is threatening to end-run California voters. It reflects a terrible trend” — Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times.

“Power grab may energize Newsom and Democrats. But it won’t fix their bigger problem” — Barabak, L.A. Times.

“They worked hard to draw fair political maps. How do they feel about Newsom undoing them? — MZB, LAT.

“Emergency, emergency - everybody to get from street!” — The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming! (1966).

Image: Pngtree.com