Over $100M spent on ads for and against California’s redistricting ballot measure : NPR
Millions of dollars have been spent in advertisements for and against California’s 50 proposal, an electoral measure in November which would redraw the Congress card in favor of Democrats.
In Martínez, host:
More than $ 100 million have been invested in the campaigns around California’s proposal 50. The November vote asked Californian voters to approve the new districts of the congress favorable to the Democrats. This is a response to the efforts of Gerrymandering led by the Republicans in Texas and in other states, following the requests of President Trump. Guy Marzorati, from Kqed Member Station, said more about what has become an expensive fight on Californian waves.
Guy Marzorati, Byline: Governor Gavin Newsom has collected more than $ 90 million to support proposal 50. Marva Diaz, California Target Book editor, a non -partisan electoral guide, says that a large part of this money comes from the usual suspects of the collection of Democrat funds from California.
Marva Diaz: So you see the association of nurses, the Seiu, a lot of work money, many high -ranking democratic donors participating.
Marzorati: But there is also a lot of money from the outside of the state which supports Newsom’s efforts to win five seats in the Congress for Democrats. Among the main donors of Prop 50 are a group working to elect Democrats at the Congress and an organization led by the Mega-Donator George Soros. The Prop 50 campaign also raised millions of small donations from residents of the 50 states.
Diaz: I think it shows how important it is for the Democratic Party.
Marzorati: Proposal 50 would temporarily put aside a card from the congress drawn by a citizen commission created by Californian voters, but Newsom has squarely concentrated his campaign on President Trump.
(Sound extract from archived recording)
Gavin Newsom: Wake up with what Donald Trump does.
Marzorati: The Yes, 50 campaign has advertisements criticizing Trump for his repression of freedom of expression and his inability to reduce costs.
(Sound extract from archived recording)
Newsom: On November 4, you have the power to stand up to Trump.
Marzorati: A word that is not mentioned in these advertisements? Electoral redistribution. While the yes camp is focused on national issues, the campaign against the Prop 50 defends the work of the independent redistribution commission …
(Sound extract from archived recording)
Unidentified narrator: he spent thousands of hours meeting Californian citizens to create fair electoral districts.
Marzorati: It shouldn’t be a surprise. The main donor of the NO campaign is the republican donor Charles Munger Jr., who financed the vote aimed at creating the Commission in 2008.
(Sound extract from archived recording)
Unidentified narrator: the Prop 50 destroys this good job.
Marzorati: Despite the donations of the Republicans of the National Chamber and former President Kevin McCarthy, the NO camp has raised less than half of what the campaign yes out of 50 reported. While Newsom is clearly the face of the campaign of proposal 50, the opponents hope for a boost of another family to the Californians.
(Sound extract from archived recording)
Arnold Schwarzenegger: This is why it is important that you voted not on proposal 50.
Marzorati: Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former Republican Governor of the State, defended the creation of an independent redistribution in the state.
(Sound extract from archived recording)
Schwarzenegger: Democracy. We have to protect him and we have to fight for it.
Marzorati: When he spoke out against the Prop 50 at an event last month at the University of Southern California, the NO campaign was there to film it and quickly transform it into advertising. Marva Diaz – Once again, editor of California Target Book – says Schwarzenegger can be an important voice in opposition, especially for indecisive voters.
Diaz: The fact that he says that two wrongs do not do a good is really a powerful message.
Marzorati: But Diaz says that Schwarzenegger resisted playing a more active role against proposal 50, perhaps believing that the campaign has become too partisan.
Diaz: I don’t think he wants to be associated with Trump.
Marzorati: However, with the current vote, the Californians should get used to seeing a lot of Schwarzenegger and Newsom on their television screens.
For NPR News, my name is Guy Marzorati in San Jose.
(Sound extract from the song of the Eagles, “Hotel California”)
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