Prop 50: Californians pass redistricting measure that helps Democrats flip up to five House seats

Approval of measure could determine if Republicans keep full control of government in next year's midterm elections

Voters in California on Tuesday approved a high-stakes redistricting measure, a national triumph for Democrats hoping to stop Donald Trump and Republicans from retaining full control of the federal government in next year's midterm elections.

It was a decisive victory for Democrats in deep-blue California, who had raced to counter a gerrymander in Texas, engineered at the US president's behest, to carve out new safe Republican districts. The Associated Press declared Proposition 50 had passed almost instantly when polls closed statewide.