Voters in Riverside County and Statewide approved the passage of Proposition 50, which will change California’s current congressional maps. Idyllwild and neighboring communities will become part of District 48.

Already the Hill’s U.S. Congressman, Ken Calvert, has announced he will seek re-election to the new District 40, which does not include the Hill communities.

Statewide Prop 50 garnered more than 63.8 percent of ballots cast. In Riverside County, support was favorable, but slightly more muted. Only 56.2 percent of voters cast a “Yes” vote.

These results were still preliminary. Riverside County still had about 190,000 votes to count as of Wednesday morning.

Turnout

The total turnout as of Wednesday, Nov. 5, was only 35.1 percent throughout the State. In Riverside County, turnout was slightly less at 32.4 percent. According to the County, turnout in the Hill neighborhoods ranged between 40 and 60 percent.

Calvert

In his announcement for CD 40, Calvert noted that he currently represents 51 percent of the new 40th District and resides in the district.

As initial results of the success of Prop 50 began being announced, Calvert issued the following statement.

“With the passage of Prop 50, Californians were sold a bill of goods, allowing Gavin Newsom and his radical allies in Sacramento an unprecedented power grab to redraw the Congressional map and silence those who disagree with his extreme policies,” said Calvert in the press release. “Gerrymandering districts because you don’t like the results of an election is politics at its absolute worst.”

Trump comments

On Election Day, President Donald Trump posted on Social Truth his view of the conduct of the Election.

“The Unconstitutional Redistricting Vote in California is a GIANT SCAM in that the entire process, in particular the Voting itself, is RIGGED. All “Mail-In” Ballots, where the Republicans in that State are “Shut Out,” is under very serious legal and criminal review. STAY TUNED!”