This community opinion was contributed by Gavilan College Trustee and member of the San Benito County Democratic Central Committee, Jeanie Wallace though she sends this as a private citizen not a representative of either organization. The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent BenitoLink or other affiliated contributors. Lea este artículo en español aquí.
Earlier this week, BenitoLink ran a feature titled “Locals rally in San Benito County against Prop. 50.” Through it’s title, statements made in the article, and — most notably — its omissions, the piece leaves readers with the mistaken impression that locals are fairly united in opposition to Prop. 50. This is not the case.
While it is true that “across social media … opposition to the measure is appearing throughout San Benito County,” it is also true that there is comparably robust support for the measure on local online platforms — coming largely from concerned residents throughout the county who are not normally involved in party politics.
The article quotes several Republican leaders whose statements reveal either a faulty understanding of Prop 50, or a deliberate effort to mislead voters. For example, “local Republican leader Robert Bernosky told BenitoLink that California should focus on its own challenges, rather than getting into national political fights.” Surely, Bernosky understands that the unwillingness of the Republican-controlled Congress to stand up to the Trump administration — as it sends armed troops into our cities to squash free speech; and slashes funds to our schools and universities; and fires medical experts at the CDC; and cuts funding for vaccine programs and Medi-Cal; and sends ICE agents to kidnap workers from their jobs; and censors scientists and historians and teachers and museum curators; and adopts chaotic tariffs that send grocery prices ever higher; and now even takes a wrecking ball to the East Wing of the White House, “The People’s House” — all contributes to “California’s own challenges.”
Local Republican Peter Hernandez complains that Prop 50 is “changing the rules midstream.” This ignores the fact that it was Trump and Republicans who changed the rules by redrawing Texas’s congressional districts to create five new Republican seats ahead of next year’s elections. What everyone with a high school Civics education hopefully realizes is that members of Congress make decisions for the whole country, not just for their own states. When Trump and Republicans started redrawing congressional districts across the country, that changed the “game” for everyone. Democratic-majority states are faced with two choices: play by the new rules, or concede the loss in a rigged contest. It’s all about whether or not we come out of the 2026 elections with a Congress that’s willing to stand up Trump’s outrageous abuses of power, and protect people in California and across the country from further harm.
The article mentions that former Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has come out against Prop 50, citing concern for the future of our state’s Citizens’ Redistricting Commission. But Prop 50 keeps the citizens’ commission in place, along with the State Assembly and State Senate districts it has drawn. The drawing of new congressional districts after the 2030 Census will revert to the citizens’ commission. This is not a Democratic Party power grab.
Schwarzenegger acknowledges that “what Texas is doing is wrong,” but then says that “California doing the same thing in reverse isn’t the answer.” In other words, “two wrongs don’t make a right.” But what California is attempting to do with Prop 50 is not wrong. Preserving checks and balances is not wrong. Defending our democracy is not wrong. Sitting back and doing nothing — while autocratic forces dismantle our institutions, pocket our tax dollars, harm our families, and destroy our democracy — that would be wrong!
Through a glaring omission, the BenitoLink article gives the impression that the only local grassroots activism in the county is organizing against Prop 50. Yet, at the very same time that about ten people were protesting against Prop 50 in Hollister last Saturday, about 480 were participating in the No Kings Day protest on the other three corners. Sixty times as many people. Carrying signs opposed to Donald Trump’s authoritarian power grab, and urging passers-by to vote YES on Prop 50. In San Juan Bautista, another 175+ local residents protested against Trump and in favor of Prop 50.
As readers contemplate their ballots, the history teacher in me would like to share the following. When our founders created the powerful presidency that they thought the country needed, they were at the same time very concerned about the potential for tyranny. So they created the system of checks and balances that we all know. Part of that system is the opportunity to elect new members to Congress at the midterms, especially if the people disapprove of presidential overreach and congressional complacency. It is this opportunity that Trump and the Republican Party and trying to defeat.
At the close of the Constitutional Convention, Ben Franklin was asked, “What kind of government have you given us?” He replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” The answer is up to all of us.
Please vote YES on Prop 50.
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