Billionaire left-wing donor George Soros gave $10 million to California Gov. Gavin Newsom for his plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts, The New York Times reported Friday.
Soros, who has funded many left-wing campaigns from local district attorneys to federal elections, made the largest donation to Newsom’s effort, according to the Times, which cited two sources with direct knowledge.
Soros is the founder of the Open Society Foundations, a $25 billion nonprofit. His son Alex became chair of the board of directors in 2022.
The $10 million donation helped Newsom raise about $70 million for his redistricting plan, according to the Times. Newsom started the initiative, called Proposition 50, earlier in 2025 to counter moves by the Trump administration that encouraged Republican-led states, like Texas, to redraw congressional maps.
“We are talking about emergency measures to respond to what’s happening in Texas, and we will nullify what happens in Texas,” Newsom said in August about Proposition 50.
In August, dozens of Democratic lawmakers in Texas left the state for places like Illinois, Massachusetts, and New York to prevent a vote on a new congressional map. Despite this, the Texas Legislature passed the plan, and Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed it into law that same month.
In reaction, Newsom launched California’s initiative to fight red-state redistricting. Proposition 50 will be on California ballots in a special election on Nov. 4.
“We’ll pick up five seats with the consent of the people. And that’s the difference between the approach we’re taking and the approach they’re taking,” Newsom said in August. “We’re doing it temporarily, transparently, and by asking Californians for their support.”
President Donald Trump had supported redistricting in Texas, saying in August it could give the GOP five more seats.
“In California, it’s all gerrymandered,” Trump said during a CNBC interview. “And we have an opportunity in Texas to pick up five seats. We have a really good governor, and we have good people in Texas. And I won Texas. I got the highest vote in the history of Texas, as you probably know, and we are entitled to five more seats.”
Trump has also criticized Soros publicly for supporting left-wing causes and candidates, calling for investigations into both George and Alex Soros.
“Soros, and his group of psychopaths, have caused great damage to our Country! That includes his Crazy, West Coast friends. Be careful, we’re watching you!” Trump wrote on Truth Social in August.
