California voters approved Proposition 50 in November, suspending the state’s independent redistricting commission and allowing lawmakers to redraw congressional boundaries through 2030.

For Cerritos College, understanding which district it now belongs to becomes complicated.

Prop 50 immediately merges District 38 in southeast Los Angeles County with parts of District 41 in Riverside County, creating one of California’s most politically diverse districts.

Under the new map, District 38, home to working-class Latino communities in Norwalk, La Mirada, and Artesia, will combine with suburban and conservative areas of Riverside County, including Corona, Eastvale and parts of Riverside.

The merger sets up a clash of political cultures, blending Democratic strongholds with Republican-leaning suburbs. This overhaul marks a sharp departure from California’s decade-long reliance on nonpartisan mapping.

The changes could also reshape local representation heading into the 2026 elections.

One half of the Cerritos College sits within District 45, where incumbent Democratic Rep. Derek Tran is up for re-election in 2026.

The other half sits within District 38, where Democratic Rep. Linda Sánchez, who has represented the district since 2013, announced she will run in the merged district in 2026.

“After Proposition 50 passed and split my current district, deciding where to run was an emotional, but ultimately, an easy choice — I chose home,” Sánchez announced on social media. “Boundaries may change, but my commitment to fighting for the people I love will never waver.”

Her base remains rooted in southeast Los Angeles County, where Democratic turnout is expected to remain strong. But the addition of Riverside County voters introduces new uncertainty.

Republican Rep. Ken Calvert, who has represented District 41 since 2013, faces a district shifted westward and potentially more favorable to Democrats.

To preserve his political footing, Calvert declared his candidacy in the newly formed 40th District, which retains much of his Riverside-area constituency.

“Californians in the newly drawn 40th District deserve a proven conservative they can trust and a fighter who has delivered results for Riverside and Orange County for decades,” Calvert said in a recent press release. “No one else comes close to my record of service to the new 40th. I’ve lived here my entire life and already represent the majority of this district in Congress.”

His decision could set up a high-profile Republican primary against Rep. Young Kim, whose district boundaries now overlap with Calvert’s. Analysts say the contest could become one of the most closely watched GOP races in the state.

Supporters of Proposition 50 argue the measure is a safeguard against national gerrymandering trends. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, who helped place the measure on the ballot, called the maps “a temporary response” during an August press conference.

Proposition 50 was placed on the ballot by the Legislature in response to Texas’ mid-decade redistricting earlier this year, which expanded Republican control of congressional seats.

California’s measure passed with 54 percent of the vote, according to the Secretary of State’s office.

The Citizens Redistricting Commission, established by voters through Proposition 11 in 2008 and expanded in 2010, was designed to remove partisan influence from the process.

Its maps have been credited with creating more competitive districts and reducing safe seats for incumbents.

Suspending the commission through 2030 marks the first time California has returned redistricting authority to lawmakers in more than a decade.

The Legislature’s maps will remain in place for the 2026 and 2028 elections before the commission regains authority in 2030. Candidate filing for the 2026 congressional elections opens in February.

Voters can review the proposed congressional boundaries using NBC Los Angeles’ interactive Proposition 50 map.