California Passes New House Maps in Triumph for Newsom (1)

California voters passed a ballot measure that could flip as many as five congressional seats to Democrats from Republicans, handing Governor Gavin Newsom a major political victory in his fight against President Donald Trump.

Proposition 50 was backed by about 65% of voters, with nearly half of precincts reported. The Associated Press called the outcome within a minute of polls closing.

Newsom championed the controversial ballot measure as a way to neutralize a Trump-backed initiative in Texas in which the state redrew congressional districts to flip as many as five seats to the GOP. Redistricting battles have spread ...