AOC’s ad boosted support for California’s Prop 50 more than Obama’s, helping pass a redistricting change favoring Democrats.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s ad for California’s Proposition 50 outperformed spots from Gov. Gavin Newsom and former President Barack Obama in internal Democratic super PAC testing, boosting support by 5.1 percentage points—more than Obama’s 4.3-point gain. The ad, which tied redistricting to Donald Trump’s influence and everyday concerns like healthcare and paychecks, was widely shared online in English and Spanish. Prop 50, approved by voters 2-to-1, replaced California’s independent redistricting commission with a Legislature-drawn map expected to give Democrats up to five additional U.S. House seats. Critics, including Republicans and the Trump-era Justice Department, argue the map is an aggressive partisan gerrymander and racially biased, prompting legal challenges. Ocasio-Cortez’s strong showing in California, a key primary state, has elevated her national profile. Newsom’s team downplayed the rankings, highlighting the campaign’s overall 20-point victory.