Because informed voters make better decisions, The Modesto Focus invited two Stanislaus County residents to debate Proposition 50, the only item on the Nov. 4 ballot. The measure would authorize temporary changes to congressional district boundaries in California to neutralize partisan redistricting in Texas, affecting the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Participating are Astrid Zuniga and Joel Campos.
Zuniga is president of the United Domestic Workers in California, president of the North Valley Labor Federation and chair of the California Democratic Party’s labor caucus. She also is a caregiver for her adult son.
Campos is the Stanislaus County Republican Party chairman. He also is a senior regional planner with the San Joaquin Council of Governments transportation agency, and a warrant officer in the California Army National Guard.
This transcript has been edited for length and clarity. See the full debate video below.
Zuniga: Full disclosure, I am not an official spokesperson for the Prop. 50 campaign. I am just a citizen of Stanislaus County that is pro-Prop. 50. We have seen over and over again that this administration and the majority in Congress are more about tax cuts for billionaires than looking out for working people. They’ve cut our health care, they’ve cut food assistance for working families, the attacks on unions and our very right to organize.
We need champions in Congress to fight for many of the programs and services that our community’s most vulnerable and working families rely on. There’s approximately 800,000 Californians who rely on in-home care services funded in large part by Medicaid, or what we call Medi-Cal; 8,000 of those reside here in Stanislaus County, and these workers and their families will be impacted by the many cuts that the electeds and administration have made. Rural health centers in our county rely on federal funding and are now at risk of closing.
The stakes are just too high. We can’t let Texas’s unprecedented gerrymandering go unanswered. We have to have a fighting chance of taking back the House next year and electing leaders who will stick up for working people. That’s why I’m voting yes. I’m angry that Republicans in Congress and Californians that elected them are allowing Medicaid cuts and cuts to SNAP benefits in order to give back to billionaires. There’s got to be another way, and that’s why I’m voting for Prop. 50.
Campos: Thank you to the Modesto Focus for inviting me and Astrid into this debate or conversation. Prop. 50 is just a very expensive power grab by the Newsom administration. When I was hearing Astrid talk about this administration, I kind of thought she was referring to the Newsom administration and the power grabs that they’re pulling in Sacramento.
Prop. 50 is designed to favor incumbents, to create safe seats, both on the right and the left, Democrats and Republicans, something I don’t agree with. In Stanislaus County, it’ll make Congressional District 13 more blue, more Democrat. And then also in Congressional District 5 on the eastern side of Stanislaus County, it’ll make it more red.
I’m very proud of the fact that Stanislaus is very purple. The voter registration is almost a third (Republican), a third (Democrat), a third (other) in Stanislaus County, and I think that’s why I truly love playing a role in politics here. I think it allows everybody to have a more fair representation and a more fair voice here in Stanislaus County. Prop. 50 is just going to dilute those folks that are in the middle, and it’s going to cause more division. Politicians are supporting Prop. 50 so they could be in safer seats because they don’t want to run in tough elections.
Q: Will most Democrats vote for Prop. 50 and most Republicans vote against it?
Campos: I don’t think it’s a party issue at all. I’m seeing many grassroots, nonpartisan organizations like the California Farm Bureau and county sheriffs, county DAs, those are nonpartisan folks that are against Prop. 50. They see how it’ll affect our communities, splitting up our communities, and they’re completely against it. I do believe that most Republicans are going to vote no, and I am asking that independents and Democrats join us and help to keep our voices heard, especially in the Central Valley, and vote no.
Zuniga: That’s one thing we both agree on, because I as well don’t believe that this is a party issue. This is an issues issue. We’re nonpartisan in labor as a whole. I have Democrats, independents, no party preference, Republicans, all across the spectrum. Prop. 50 is going to level the playing field, and truly is just a response to what other states have attempted to do, but at least this way, it’s coming back to the people. It’s about protecting our right to organize and healthcare funding for the (in-home services) and family child care providers and our democracy by not letting places like Texas do their gerrymandering and have that go unanswered.
Q: People have framed this proposition as a battle between President Trump and Governor Newsom. Is that accurate?
Zuniga: That’s not how I see it. TV and social media show it as back and forth between Trump and Gov. Newsom, but it’s about making sure that there are checks and balances and that we are holding those that we elected accountable for the decisions that they’re making.
Campos: There are more Republicans in California than any other state in the nation. However, the field is not level. There’s only nine congressmen that are Republican in California out of 54. The field is already skewed, right? So we’re just trying to preserve those nine folks.
The League of Women Voters have a neutral position on this. If you go on their website, they’re 100% completely against gerrymandering, yet they have a neutral position. That’s so odd. They were one of the biggest supporters of the independent redistricting commission. And Newsom was a fan of this independent redistricting commission in the past, and yet now he’s trying to shut our voices and cancel this.
Trump versus Newsom? I don’t think that’s the case. It’s Newsom versus the voters of California, because they’re silencing our voices. They already drew the maps before we can even vote on Prop. 50.
Zuniga: We do believe 100% in an independent, nonpartisan commission. However, when states like Texas and Missouri do these things without taking it to their voters, that’s a direct attack on democracy and we need to act in response. This is our way of fighting back, by voting yes on Prop. 50. It gives us the opportunity to skew things a little bit into the favor of making sure that we’re protecting and preserving programs like IHS and Medicaid and SNAP.
Q: Are most people aware of Prop. 50? What are you doing to help people understand the issue?
Zuniga: Between billboards and commercials and social media, most people are aware of what’s going on. In the labor movement, we’re educating our members about the potential threats we face, and we’re talking to our youth at college campuses. We’ve had hundreds of folks making thousands of phone calls. We’re at membership meetings. We are having one-on-one conversations at people’s doors and grocery stores and office places and people are getting excited and they’re happy to learn more about it. We’re letting them know why we have to fight back, because we have to do everything we can to hold this administration accountable.
Campos: Maybe a few weeks ago people weren’t familiar. I think people are finally starting to pay attention, and that’s a good thing. For voter turnout in general, I think there’s a lot of confusion. I’ve gone canvassing and folks are either in the know or they have no idea. I don’t think people really understand how these lines affect their lives, especially with this rush of having to make a decision. It’s tough on voters. But we are going out there, we’re canvassing, we’re educating nonprofits and grassroots organizations. Those folks are leading the charge in No on Prop. 50, but they don’t have the infrastructure like the Democrat machine to just give out millions and millions of dollars. So they’re coming to us and they’re saying, can I get some signs? Can I get some material?
Q: Would you say these advertisements and commercials have been fair?
Campos: I am seeing and hearing a lot of “Yes on 50” commercials, and I think that just is a tribute to the amount of money that the Democrats are pushing into this to ensure that Newsom has a favorable position when he runs in 2028 for president. But actually folks in the Bay Area are seeing “No on 50” ads (while) here (in the Valley) where we voted for Trump, maybe they’re pushing heavy on “Yes on 50.”
Zuniga: At the beginning I saw more “No on 50” ads than I did “Yes,” and that’s because of the ton of money that Charles Munger and (Tom) McClintock are dumping into it. To be honest, it’s about grassroots. It’s about getting out there and having conversations.
Campos: I think it’s our algorithms, right? So maybe the “Yes on 50s” are targeting me, the “No on 50s” are targeting her. We’re going to bump into folks that are on either side of this proposition. And I think it’s just important that we maintain those conversations.
Q: Are all-mail ballots good or bad for democracy?
Campos: Voters here in California are used to that process. I’m urging folks to vote no and vote early. But I hear the concerns regarding fraud, regarding dogs voting and the hole in the ballot (envelope)*, and I’m doing my part in educating folks about the ADA feature for folks that are blind or visually impaired. But I do have trust. And my central committee here in Stanislaus County, we do trust the registrar of voters. We have a great relationship with Donna Linder’s office, and we’re invited to observe and tour her office and her operations, and she answers our questions. I think she’s doing a great job here in Stanislaus. As far as our neighbors, I can’t speak on those. As a service member, I do remember getting my ballot when I was deployed in Iraq in 2018. Being able to mail in that ballot when I was overseas is always going to be important.
Zuniga: Thank you for your service, Joel. All-mail ballots increase voter participation by making voting more accessible for elderly and people with disabilities, it gives them an opportunity to vote, and we have to continue to allow that process so they’re not disenfranchised. It’s a very important process of our democracy to have mail-in ballots.
Q: Is the current federal government shutdown affecting this vote?
Zuniga: It’s not affecting the election at all, but it is reminding voters that this administration will put tax cuts for the wealthy ahead of making health care affordable. It’s exactly why we need to pass Prop. 50. When the average working family is expecting their health care plan to go up by $1,000 a year, when groceries are high and the cost of living is expensive, we can’t afford that. I respect you, Joel, in your position, but Republicans in Congress should be ashamed for passing the catastrophic, big BS bill. That’s taking money from low-income families and putting it back into the billionaires’ pockets, and an estimated 5 million Californians really are at risk of losing their CalFresh benefits. If we don’t pass Prop. 50, we’re going to have another two years of this, and it will have devastating effects for many who live here in Stanislaus County.
Campos: I think the shutdown is reminding people that we can’t trust politicians and that we shouldn’t give them any more power. We should vote no on Prop. 50 and keep the power with the people and the independent redistricting commission. However, I do believe that the shutdown is also showing folks that the Democrats are equally to blame. President Trump is taking care of folks like military service members, paying their salaries during this ridiculous shutdown, and also Women, Infants and Children, that program is being funded as well.
Instead of raising salaries for firefighters, Newsom vetoed that bill and he’s spending the money on Prop. 50 instead of supporting families in low-income communities like mine. The Democrats just waste money, and we shouldn’t give them any more power. We should be really concerned about the number of congressional seats we have in California, because that’s estimated to go down regardless if they’re Democrat or Republican. We really need to turn this ship around and bring people excited to come back to California instead of just leaving in droves.
Zuniga: I ain’t leaving California because this is the best state for my son, for his well-being and for the services that this state provides him. I’m sure there’s a lot of other special needs parents out there and working families that agree with me.
Q: Do you think fear of ICE detention will keep some away from the voting booth Nov. 4?
Zuniga: There is the fear of ICE in many neighborhoods, that’s an unfortunate circumstance that we have to deal with, but that’s why we have mail-in ballots, and hopefully people can do it from the comfort of their home without fear.
Campos: The turnout (will be) low and it is concerning. Have registrar of voter offices received additional resources for this special election? Have they beefed up their staff so they can process the ballots that are coming in? We do need to increase voter turnout. I’m Latino and we’re in a low-income, heavily Hispanic neighborhood. I’m not concerned about going to the polls. I speak Spanish. I’m not afraid. I’m an American citizen. Only American citizens can vote. So I’m not sure why they will be concerned.
Q: Republicans have gained some ground recently and have slightly more registered voters than Democrats in this county. Do you see that continuing?
Campos: I do. I think people are getting sick and tired of Sacramento policies. You’re hearing about this tolling or this vehicle tax, all those things benefit the Bay Area and LA urban residents, and they negatively affect Central Valley residents. We have the largest commuter base in this region. As folks move into the Central Valley, as they’re able to afford and purchase a home, they start to realize, “Wow, look at all these taxes that I’m paying.” That’s why we’re seeing that shift. They’re also seeing how President Trump, with the sign of a pen, is able to help more American citizens. That’s one of the reasons why Newsom put this proposition on the ballot, because the Central Valley is shifting more conservative, so they need to save districts like Adam Gray’s Congressional District 13 and Josh Harder’s district and make them more blue so they can get reelected.
Zuniga: I don’t give two you-know-whats if you’ve got a D or R at the end of your name as long as you’re doing what’s right by the people. And we have to make sure that we’re demanding that government is going to put people first and working families and the programs that our elderly and our disabled rely on. And I will have to beg to differ with you, Joel – at the stroke of a pen, (Trump) is hurting more Americans than he is helping. I’ve had conversations with Republicans, and they didn’t realize they could be a no-party preference, and they’ve come to me and they’ve said, “This isn’t what I voted for, this isn’t what I wanted, this isn’t what I expected.” So things are changing.
Q: Would you support Congress outlawing gerrymandering nationwide?
Zuniga: Absolutely. We wouldn’t even be in this boat if there wasn’t other states doing this. As far as I’m concerned, that would be an answer to all our problems right now.
Campos: I would be completely in support of that. I participated in that independent redistricting commission in 2021 and I remember asking them, “Hey, can you keep communities of interest like Gustine and Newman together?” over the phone at 9 o’clock at night, and then when I saw the map the next day they changed it and I was like, “Wow, they were really receptive of somebody from Modesto calling in.” And I really appreciated that process. I also participated when Modesto did their redistricting from at-large to (geographic) districts back in 2008 so I believe in the public participation process when it comes to redistricting.
Q: Let’s hear final remarks.
Campos: This was really good, and I truly hope that we do have high turnout in Stanislaus. I urge folks to vote no, because this is really bad policy that’s just going to cause politicians to not be accountable, to just not pay attention to Central Valley communities. We need to stick together with the current maps that we have right now until the next redistricting process.
Zuniga: It’s been a pleasant conversation. For a lot of people, it’s about politics; for me, it’s personal. I’ve worked tirelessly in Sacramento and even on the federal side to pass legislation to provide safety nets that protect people with disabilities and seniors and all Californians. It’s about the services that my son needs to thrive in his community, to remain safely in his home; should something happen to me, I want to make sure that the programs he benefits from will stay in place. This administration and the majority in Congress have shown that they care more about other things instead of keeping programs in place that many of our vulnerable citizens deserve and need, and the stakes are just simply too high to sit on the sidelines. We want to make sure that people are making the right decisions, and that’s why we want people to vote yes on Prop. 50.
*Editor’s Note: The Stanislaus County ballot envelopes have a hole to guide the visually impaired, which does not reveal ballot selections.
Garth Stapley is the accountability reporter for The Modesto Focus, a project of the nonprofit Central Valley Journalism Collaborative. Contact him at garth@cvlocaljournalism.org.