Redistricting in America

On January 10th, the California redistricting process moves to the State Supreme Court. The Court faces a question it would undoubtedly prefer to avoid: the degree of involvement it will have in redistricting the State Senate.

On Wednesday, the California Supreme Court unanimously struck down two Republican challenges to the redistricting plans put forth by the Citizens Redistricting Commission. The two petitions, which dispute the validity of the state legislative and congressional maps, were brought by GOP activist Julie Vandermost and former GOP congressman George Radanovich respectively.

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David Dreier, who chairs the House Rules Committee, has a seat at the GOP leadership table, helping set his party's legislative and political agenda. He has hobnobbed with all kinds of figures, from Afghan President Hamid Karzai to Tommy Lasorda, in his spiffy Capitol office. He owns homes in Malibu, Rancho Mirage and his San Gabriel Valley district. And, as head of a panel that works to promote democracy abroad, he has traveled to such places as East Timor and Mongolia. He seems to have everything — except a district to run in next year.

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Looking for heated congressional battles next year? Time to start California Dreamin'. Recently, competition has been missing in California congressional elections: over the past five cycles, only one congressional district has changed partisan allegiance - California 11 in 2006 moved from Republican to Democrat - out of 265 contests. But that's about to change. Due to an historic redistricting plan finalized by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, an early estimate for 2012 is that at least 15 of the 53 districts may change partisan affiliation, based on our analysis of the demographic and partisan composition of the proposed districts, including two districts almost certain to add Democrats and lose Republicans.

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A group of Republican leaders said Monday that the new redistricting plan will be challenged by a referendum drive. "A referendum will be filed with respect to the Senate lines and possibly the congressional lines," said California Republican Party Chairman Tom Del Beccaro. "The California Republican Party will wholeheartedly support those efforts when they come about." He said the redistricting commission's actions "have been unfair if not unconstitutional." GOP lawmakers and activists have formed a committee called Fairness & Accountability in Redistricting to launch a petition drive to overturn the state Senate lines, according to Republican political consultant Dave Gilliard.

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