Long Beach council unanimously backs state Proposition 50 to counter alleged election 'rigging'

Long Beach — The City Council on Tuesday voted to take an official position in support of California Proposition 50, the Election Rigging Response Act, with several members describing the measure as a defense of fair representation and local services.

Mayor Rick Richardson introduced the item as a response to recent political maneuvers in other states that he said threaten balanced representation and federal support for local services. He and a majority of council members argued that Proposition 50 gives California voters an option to respond if states attempt to manipulate congressional lines to alter federal balance.

Council debate covered a range of arguments in favor of the ballot measure — several members called it a protection for immigrant communities, health and education funding, and the general principle that ‘‘silence is not neutrality.’’ Councilmember Duggan said he was ‘‘reluctant but will be voting to support Prop 50’’ because he viewed it as a temporary, narrowly tailored fix to offset alleged partisan gerrymandering elsewhere that shifted five additional seats. Councilmember Supernaugh opposed the measure on grounds that prior redistricting had created confusion for residents in his district and said he could not support it.

The council voted to adopt the mayor’s request to take an official position supporting Prop 50 (motion carried). The measure, placed on the statewide ballot, directs California to adopt emergency mapping provisions if other states pass congressional maps that add seats via partisan gerrymandering; proponents say the step is temporary and aimed at protecting fair representation until the next independent redistricting work can be completed.

Why it matters: Municipal resolutions supporting statewide ballot measures are symbolic but can influence local turnout and public debate. The council framed Prop 50 as protecting the city’s ability to preserve representation and federal funding streams affected by changes in congressional maps elsewhere.