Mustang News is covering the 2025 special California election to empower the Cal Poly student body and the greater San Luis Obispo community to engage in informed participation in our democracy.
Our mission in covering the California special election is to get our communities involved by providing journalism that helps voters feel empowered to participate in their civil duties. We strive to better understand our audiences’ thoughts toward the special election and cover it in a way that promotes transparency of the state’s plans.
The staff behind this coverage are independent, curious, respectful individuals who are accountable to you, our audience. You can also find our organization’s general values guide that highlights our decision-making process on what we report on and how we do so.
We are committed to keeping our readers at the center of this conversation by using social media, accepting feedback and outsourcing for questions you may have about Proposition 50.
During our 2025 election coverage, we will:
- Demystify the voting process
- Cover events, voting locations and student perspectives
- Examine the influence of where this puts California in the national political conversation
- Answer reader questions about the importance of Proposition 50
What is a special election?
On Nov. 4, 2025, California scheduled a statewide special election. Special elections are generally held to fill unexpected vacancies or address urgent legislative matters. For this election, California voters will vote on Proposition 50, a recent California ballot initiative that is referred to as the Election Rigging Response Act.
Mustang News previously reported on Proposition 50, explaining that in response to pressure from President Donald Trump, the Texas state legislature passed a new plan this year to increase the number of congressional seats for the Republican Party and maintain its majority. Gov. Gavin Newsom created Proposition 50 in an attempt to give Democrats a comparable advantage in California’s congressional elections and negate Texas’s action.
Cal Poly is in the 24th Congressional District which is unaffected by the proposed changes. However, many Cal Poly students’ hometowns could be redrawn if the Proposition passes. With that in mind, we are committed to serve and bring up new topics for you to consume this election cycle.
How you can inform our work
We want you to have questions, comments and feedback to inform what we cover. Our readers’ questions and needs will shape our priorities and efforts in delivering important information about this election.
If we’re missing something, this is your chance to tell us. And always, thank you for reading Mustang News. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at editorial@mustangmediagroup.com
This guide was adapted from our 2024 election values guide.