While the measure passed comfortably statewide, it was rejected by most North Valley counties, including Yuba, Sutter and Colusa. Designed by Freepik, www.freepik.com

YUBA-SUTTER, CA (MPG) - California voters approved Proposition 50 on Nov. 4, clearing the way for the state to use the Legislature’s AB 604 congressional map for the next three House election cycles. While the measure passed comfortably statewide, it was rejected by most North Valley counties, including Yuba, Sutter and Colusa. If implemented, the new map would significantly alter federal representation in the region and reshape long-standing political alignments.

Most local officials did not respond to comment requests, and several emails were returned undelivered. Rep. Doug LaMalfa’s office acknowledged the inquiry but declined to discuss details. Responses from Yuba City Mayor Dave Shaw and Colusa County Farm Bureau Interim Executive Manager Marijke Lauwerijssen offer early insight into how the shift is being interpreted locally.

Mayor Shaw said the city does not expect its day-to-day cooperation with federal offices to change immediately.

“Our city will continue to operate and work with all federal offices and agencies as we always have,” Shaw said. But he emphasized that uncertainty remains around funding and advocacy.

“There are many unknowns as to the effects of Prop 50,” Shaw said. “It does have the potential to affect the funding of local projects as we need the support of those elected to Federal office to invest in our community. With the new boundaries drawn, we could end up being represented by someone who does not understand our community as we are quite different from other cities included in the new Prop 50 maps.”

Shaw added that a consistent congressional relationship is essential to securing resources.

“It is extremely important,” Shaw said. “If our congressional partners understand and know our community, they can be of great assistance in securing much needed funding for projects that affect our safety and quality of life.”

Under the current map drawn by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, most of Yuba County and all of Sutter and Colusa are included in California’s 1st Congressional District, represented by Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a Republican and lifelong Northern California farmer who has held the seat since 2013. The eastern foothill portion of Yuba County, along with all of Nevada County, is part of California’s 3rd District, represented by Rep. Kevin Kiley.

Under the new AB 604 map approved by voters through Proposition 50, those boundaries would shift significantly. Sutter County, Colusa County and the population centers of Marysville and Yuba City would leave LaMalfa’s District 1 entirely and move into a reconfigured 4th Congressional District, a seat anchored in the North Bay and Sacramento corridor and currently represented by Rep. Mike Thompson. The remaining eastern portion of Yuba County would stay in a redrawn District 3 with Kiley, alongside Nevada County and other Sierra foothill regions.

This change means that for the first time in decades, the Yuba–Sutter urban core would share a representative with Napa, Sonoma and parts of Yolo County, rather than with neighboring rural valleys or foothill counties. Nevada County’s alignment would remain similar to today, but District 3 itself becomes more Sacramento-centered and less rural than in its current form.

Local opposition to the measure was strong in the tri-county region. Yuba, Sutter and Colusa all rejected Prop 50 by margins ranging from roughly 55 to 65 percent. Nevada County narrowly supported Prop 50, one of the few North Valley counties to do so.

In Colusa County, Lauwerijssen said agricultural communities are already feeling the strain of regulatory complexity and changing political landscapes.

“I’m a little worried because the people who make our laws may not know enough about the regulation side of it,” Lauwerijssen said. “Water regulations alone, it’s like a giant Venn diagram and farmers are in the middle.”

Lauwerijssen added that critics often target farmers before examining other high-water-use landscapes, noting that golf courses in water-stressed regions like Los Angeles consume large volumes and require significant chemical inputs.

According to Lauwerijssen many farmers in the region feel misunderstood by leaders who “grew up on concrete.” She believes more opportunities for agritourism could help urban areas understand the beauty and importance of farming.

“In the last 20 years, there's been way more emphasis on ecology and holistic health on farms and thanks to government programs farmers give a lot of land to animals that otherwise wouldn't have that habitat,” explained Lauwerijssen. “If you put a housing development on land where a farm was, then that habitat will never come back.”

Despite voter approval, implementation remains uncertain. Multiple lawsuits were filed immediately after the election, arguing that the Legislature-drawn map violates the U.S. Constitution by relying too heavily on race. The U.S. Department of Justice joined one of those suits, significantly raising the stakes. A preliminary injunction ruling expected in early 2026 will determine whether the AB 604 map can be used for the next election cycle.

If blocked, Yuba, Sutter and Colusa counties would stay under their current districts, with LaMalfa continuing to represent most of the tri-county area. If the map proceeds, counties will need to update precincts, voter information tools and outreach materials.