US House Redistricting: California

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So, Republicans fell to a record low of 30.9% of registered voters, while Democrats are holding steady at 44% of registered voters, and yet they each have 5 out of 14 commissioners. Obviously a fair number would be 4 for the Republicans and 6 for the Democrats. But guess who is whining about the commission being unfair? Yep, it's the Republicans.

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/28/3507915/california-redistricting-panel.html

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I like the fact that there are no numbers. It takes away from the idea that a particular district belongs to a particular incumbent.

However, I am surprised that the pdf's don't have a demographic breakdown. Has anyone seen the Hispanic percentages?

The numbering doesn't matter for Congress. However, it matters whether the State Senate district is odd or even. The idea of having half of the State Senate from the old districts, and half from the new districts is kind of bizarre.

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The Republicans want to repeal the maps via referendum if they're similar to the "visualizations". Good luck with that.

Previous redistricting maps were overturned in referendum.

500,000 signatures in 90 days would appear feasible.

If the petition drive is completed, then the plan is not implemented until after the next statewide election, the 2012 primary (unless the governor calls a special election).

The last time this happened, the legislative districts were conducted on existing boundaries, congressional elections were conducted based on the boundaries approved by the legislature, but that was only because the number of representatives had changed.

Such a proposition would obviously fail, and would just be a waste of time and money.

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Does anyone think the new 47th CD will become competitive? The commission drew it to include all of Long Beach, but it also includes the wealthy areas of Belmont, Naples, and Bixby Knolls, Los Alamitos (known for its military community), Cypress, Republican leaning parts of Garden Grove, and most of the Republican stronghold of Westminster. Plus Republicans recruited a top tier candidate in Gary DeLong who is a Long Beach Councilman.

Mill Valley laughs at the idea that wealthy areas in California are automatically Republican.