Asian American Leaders Call On Californians To Vote ‘Yes On Prop 50’

India-West Staff Reporter

LOS ANGELES, CA — Prominent Asian American leaders gathered in Los Angeles on October 6 to urge Californians to vote ‘Yes on Proposition 50’, the Election Rigging Response Act, calling it a crucial step to defend democracy against what they described as former President Trump’s latest power grab.

Among the leading voices was Manjusha Kulkarni, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate and executive director of the AAPI Equity Alliance, who delivered a strong appeal for Californians to stand up for democratic principles.

‘Proposition 50 is an important effort to protect our democracy. It is time for Californians to stand up and vote YES on November 4,’ Kulkarni said. ‘No one should be able to unilaterally change the outcome of a national election more than a year before voting even begins. We are fighting for the future of our nation as certain forces seek to push us down a path of authoritarianism. Passing Proposition 50 will put the brakes on that descent and secure America’s democracy moving forward.’

Proposition 50 was introduced in response to Texas’ mid-decade redistricting measure, reportedly pushed by Trump and the state’s Republican majority, to create five new congressional districts favoring their party. Critics called the move a blatant attempt to manipulate elections and silence communities of color.

California’s Prop 50, advocates said, would ensure that the 2026 midterm elections are conducted on a fair and level playing field, preventing partisan interference in redistricting and protecting the integrity of the vote.

‘Trump knows he needs a Republican Congress to keep his grip on power, which is why he’s colluding with states like Texas to gerrymander more seats,’ said U.S. Representative Judy Chu. ‘That’s why I support Proposition 50 — to guarantee fair redistricting that keeps our communities together and strengthens the voices of Asian Americans and all communities of color.’

Assemblymember Jessica Caloza called the measure a moral imperative for AAPI voters: ‘Our communities are hurting — healthcare centers are being defunded, free speech is under attack, and families are being torn apart. We cannot remain silent. Our AAPI communities must fight at the ballot box and vote YES on Prop 50.’

Assemblymember Mike Fong added that Prop 50 represents an opportunity for Asian Pacific Americans to reclaim their political power. ‘Decisions made without our voices hurt our communities — from Trump’s tariffs on small businesses to Texas’ schemes to silence voters. Prop 50 is our chance to fight back.’

Cynthia Choi, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate and executive director of Chinese for Affirmative Action, linked the measure to broader struggles for justice: ‘After the devastating fires in Los Angeles, Trump blocked disaster relief. Prop 50 is how we fight back — it’s about protecting our democracy and ensuring that every one of us is treated fairly.’

Actor and community advocate Tamlyn Tomita, chair of CAPA21, echoed those sentiments, saying, ‘For Asian American and Pacific Islander communities — and for every community that has been told their voice doesn’t matter — Prop 50 is our chance to say loudly and clearly: we will not be erased. We will defend our democracy.’

With just weeks to go before the vote, Kulkarni and her fellow leaders framed Prop 50 as a defining moment for California and the nation — a test of whether voters will allow political manipulation or stand together to safeguard democracy for generations to come.