“We are fighting a regime that is all about cruelty and corruption and that chaos.”
NEVADA CITY, Calif. — With just weeks to go before a special election that could reshape how California’s congressional districts are drawn, Nevada County voters packed into Miners Foundry in Nevada City for a town hall meeting focused on Proposition 50.
Indivisible Nevada County and the Nevada County Democrats co-hosted the event, which drew at least 200 people. Organizers urged attendees to vote yes on Prop 50 in the November 4 special election—and to encourage their neighbors to do the same.
“Vote like democracy depends on it because it does,” one speaker told the crowd.
Indivisible Nevada County leader Kathy Dotson said the event aimed to educate voters about the measure and its wider implications.
“Our goal was to totally educate people about Prop 50 and voting yes on Prop 50, as well as to talk about what is going on with the inevitable arrival of ICE in Nevada County,” Dotson said.
If approved, Prop 50 would allow the state legislature to create a new congressional district map for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections—temporarily replacing maps drawn by the state’s independent redistricting commission.
Dotson said the proposal is meant to give Californians a say in redistricting, contrasting it with actions in Texas.
“They went behind the scenes and totally changed their maps without any say of the people of that state, whereas California, we are doing it and we’re bringing it to the voters,” she said.
Some attendees said that they fear democracy is being undermined nationwide. Robin, who declined to share her last name, said “Texas changing their legislatures, trying to dilute the power of California. It’s a blatant attempt to destroy democracy and destroy California’s representation in Congress.”
The Nevada County Republican Party issued a written response opposing the measure. “The Republican Party urges a NO vote on Proposition 50, which undermines rural voices by grouping Nevada County with a much larger bloc of urban voters in Sacramento—diluting our community’s influence,” the statement said. “While the event promoting Prop 50 is being called a ‘Town Hall,’ it is really just a Democrat Party rally, presenting one side of the issue without offering a true forum for open, balanced discussion.”
Dotson said this is a pivotal moment for the community. “We are fighting a regime that is all about cruelty and corruption and that chaos,” she said. “So we are trying to get our community, all of the people involved, to really participate in democracy, volunteer, mobilize, and make a difference.”
Attendees also learned about volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved through Indivisible Nevada County and the local Democratic Party. Organizers encouraged everyone—regardless of political affiliation—to research the measure before voting.