CA-Primaries: Races to Watch

With the California primaries only days away, I decided to make a list of races worth watching this coming Super Tuesday. Cross-posted at Calitics and Democracy for California.

U.S. Senate (R) – Fiorina seems to have consolidated the “outsider” vote, seeing as she is the only one of the three that has not held elected office and it seems that being an outsider will get one far in the Republican primary (though not so much in a California general election).

Governor (R) – Exactly as I predicted, this race has unfolded to be 2006 in reverse. Whoever wins the GOP primary here will be so radioactive that many Republican voters likely will cross over to vote for Jerry Brown, like many Democratic voters did for Arnold last time. If Jerry Brown pulls similar numbers among Republicans that Arnold did among Democrats, then Brown is likely gonna win big. And I’m unsure about how indies will go, so I just went with an estimate similar to the 2006 numbers.

DEM 42%-GOP 33%-OTHER 25%

Brown: 93%/22%/60% = 61%

GOP nominee: 7%/78%/40% = 39%

Lt. Governor (D) – This race will be very interesting: a classic NorCal/SoCal matchup, between Gavin Newsom and Janice Hahn.

Lt. Governor (R) – Newly-appointed incumbent Abel Maldonado will face a tough primary with more conservative State Senator Sam Aanestad. Given that moderates have fared pretty poorly in California elections of late, I give Aanestad the edge.

Sec. of State (R) – Any race with the Birther Queen just has to be a race to watch, more so for the comedy value, though I think most Republicans don’t buy her BS, so I see Dunn getting the nomination. No matter who wins, Debra Bowen is likely a cinch for a second term.

Attorney General (D) – Very crowded primary here, with 3 term-limited Assemblymen, Torrico, Nava, and Lieu; S.F. District Attorney Kamala Harris; Facebook attorney Chris Kelly; and disgraced ex-L.A. city attorney Delgadillo, though the race seems to have narrowed to just Harris and Kelly. From what I have heard of Kelly, I am rooting for Harris.

Controller (R) – Not much drama here, but I am hoping for Tony Strickland to win so he can lose to John Chiang even worse than in 2006. Unfortunately, he is not up for reelection to the State Senate until 2012, so if he wins the nomination but loses the general, he will still be in the senate (hopefully until 2012).

Insurance Commissioner (D) – Here we have two strong candidates in term-limited assemblymen Hector De La Torre and Dave Jones. I have no preference in this race, but since Jones has more money and establishment backing, I think he’ll win the nod.

CA-11 (R) – Will David Harmer, who lost by only 10% in the more Democratic CA-10 in the special election (albeit with lower turnout) be able to make it past the primary against Tony Amador and be more competitive in the general?

CA-19 (D) – I am pulling for Loraine Goodwin here. Any campaign based on health care reform is a big winner in Democratic primaries and in general elections in most parts of the state. Not sure what the HCR numbers are in this neck of the woods.

CA-19 (R) – I think I will root for Denham here, as he has won in more Democratic turf, so he is relatively saner. (And Denham is term-limited, so CA-19 run or no CA-19 run, we have a great shot at winning SD-12.) Pombo shouldn’t really be of much concern, as he has placed a distant third in the recent primary poll.

CA-26 (R) – My hometown district, where Dreier faces a primary challenge from businessman Mark Butler. While I consider Dreier to be the heavy favorite, this primary challenge could further drain his campaign coffers. If he wins the primary, Dreier has the advantage of incumbency and a year more favorable to his party (though anti-Obama sentiment is much weaker in California than elsewhere). A disadvantage Dreier has is depleted campaign coffers, from spending like crazy to win only 52% against Warner in 2008 and possibly from this primary challenge.

CA-33 (D) – Former Assembly speaker Karen Bass is likely the heavy favorite, and I hope she wins.

CA-36 (D) – Harman/Winograd redux, only with more fireworks this time around.

CA-42 (R) – Even though Gary Miller’s voting record is unabashedly conservative, he is still getting teabagged by three other Republicans. Count on yet another incumbent scoring a subpar primary performance.

CA-45 (R) – Mary Bono Mack has drawn teabag primary opposition from Clayton Thibodeau for her vote for cap-and-trade. She also voted against repealing DADT in spite of her district having the highest concentration of gays of any Republican-held district, possibly out of fear of getting teabagged. If Thibodeau upsets Bono Mack, this Obama-voting R+3 district could be put into play.

CA-47 (R) – Will Tan and Van split the Vietnamese vote, allowing Kathy Smith to sneak through?

CA-50 (D) – I like Busby, but I think her time has passed, if she couldn’t beat Bilbray in the far more Democratic-favored 2006. Attorney Tracy Emblem seems to have most of the grassroots support.

AD-05 (R) – In this open, evenly-divided suburban Sacramento seat, the Tea Party has gotten into another Republican primary, backing Craig DeLuz against party-backed Prop 8 backer Andy Pugno. I am rooting for DeLuz to win the primary so in one election we defeat a Prop H8er and increase our chances of winning this district too.

AD-30 (D) – The Parra/Florez feud continues, with Nicole’s dad Pete Parra facing off against Dean’s mom Fran Florez, who lost to Danny Gilmore, who didn’t like being an Assemblyman and that’s why he’s not running, which I at first found surprising.

AD-36 (D) – Linda Jones, who ran here in 2008, faces primary opposition from real estate broker Maggie Campbell and police officer Shawntrice Watkins. This time I am rooting for Watkins, because this Antelope Valley-centric district is very law-and-order, being the home of the Runners (Sharon and George, of “Jessica’s Law” fame), and incumbent Steve Knight also having been a police officer before being elected to the Assembly. Watkins could cut into Knight’s law-and-order advantage. Plus Watkins’ endorsement from Equality California can’t hurt either.

AD-68 (D) and (R) – I am really looking forward to an all-Vietnamese matchup here. Will be interesting to gauge the Vietnamese vote if it’s Phu Nguyen (D) vs. Long Pham (R).

And what is a California election without some ballot measures? Five are on the ballot this time.

Prop 13: Tax break to property owners for making seismic retrofits. I like seeing tax breaks used as incentives for good causes. Vote YES!

Prop 14: Top two votegetters in the primary would go on to the general election, limiting voter choices. Vote NO!

Prop 15: Repeals ban on public financing and raises fees on lobbyists to fund a public financing system for SecState election beginning in 2014. Vote YES!

Prop 16: PG&E power grab that requires a 2/3 vote to create public power districts or allow local governments to purchase their own renewable power. Vote NO!

Prop 17: Weakens consumer protections and allow car insurance companies to charge much more for late payments. Vote NO!

California Redistricting (Finally) with only 7 Republicans Safe

Also posted at http://frogandturtle.blogspot….

(Beware, this post is long so read if you have time.)

First, this is finally finished! You may have seen me mention this map in some comments and I kept saying it was a couple of weeks away a few months ago. It took me a couple of months to map and write, including when half of the write up mysteriously vanished.

This is not the most realistic plan in the world but I wanted to see how big a Democratic gerrymander I could create. I tried to keep only seven Republicans safe while making the other seats winnable for the Democrats. Although 2010 is definitely looking like a bad year for the Democrats, 2012 with Obama on the ticket should be better. 2010 should be better than expected but that’s another story. I drew this map assuming California has 53 congressional districts after the census. Yes, I know that keeping only seven Republicans safe could turn into a dummymander because I weakened too many Democrats. I hope to avoid that and I made current Democrats safe. Many of  the shakier seats should trend Democratic overtime so the Democrats will be able to pick up all the seats I made for them sometime in the decade if not 2012. I created 33 Safe Democratic, 9 Likely Democratic, 3 Lean Democratic, 2 Toss Up, 1 Likely Republican and 6 Safe Republican seats. Besides the Republican district, Obama does not win less than 53% of the vote in any district that is not safe or likely Republican. He wins 53% in only one district and 54% in two. Also, I gave the Hispanics four new districts while increasing the Asian population in the 32nd (renumbered 31st) district and 15th district. I also protected two of LA’s three African American representatives. Diane Watson is retiring so I made her district more Hispanic so the 35th (renumbered 34th) and 37th (renumbered 36th) districts will be more African American but the Hispanics will get an extra district. Also, I do not have demographic numbers for 2010 unfortunately. Here are the maps:

First, here’s a map of California’s current congressional districts. http://www.govtrack.us/congres…

Here, you can scroll down and click on California’s Congressional district names for information on them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C…

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Northern California

1st District Mike Thompson (D) St. Helena (Blue)

Obama 203,307 62% McCain 117,072 36%

Change: McCain +8

Demographics: 13% Hispanic, 78% White

Communities of Interest: Redding, Santa Rosa, Eureka

Status: Safe Democratic

I removed most of Napa County except for Thompson’s home in St. Helena. I also added most of heavily Republican Shasta County. The North Coast keeps the district safely Democratic though.

2nd District Wally Herger (R) Chico (Green)

Obama 160,489 55%, McCain 122,712 43%

Change: Obama +24

Demographics: 16% Hispanic, 5% Asian, 72% White

Communities of Interest: Redding, Chico, Davis

Status: Lean Democratic

Herger’s seat makes a big turn to the left because I removed Shasta County and Republican parts of Butte County. I added parts of Democratic Sonoma and Yolo Counties. Herger is unfamiliar with these areas so he should have trouble making inroads in them. Although he still has his home in the district, I should say he will lose by seven points to a strong challenger. Also, Herger has been criticized in the past for not being an effective congressman. A race in a district like this will shake him up.

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Sacramento area

3rd district Dan Lungren (R) Folsom

Obama 148,675 56% McCain 110,520 42%

Change: Obama +14

Demographics: 7% African American, 14% Hispanic, 7% Asian and 67% White

Communities of Interest: Sacramento, Folsom, Citrus Heights

Status: Likely Democratic

Lungren is already shaky in his current 49%-49% seat so a 56% Obama seat would be too Democratic for him. I added parts of Sacramento where he is not entrenched while removing Republican areas outside of Sacramento County. A strong challenger in 2012 when Obama is on the ballot should be able to knock off Lungren.

4th District Tom McClintock (R) Granite Bay (Red)

Obama 149,211 41% McCain 203,357 57%

Change: McCain +6

Demographics: 8% Hispanic, 85% White

Communities of Interest: Roseville, Lincoln, Rocklin

Status: Safe Republican

The only real change is that McClintock loses the Democratic Lake Tahoe area. He gets even safer with the addition of more Republican areas.

5th District Doris Matsui (D) Sacramento

Obama 165,279 62% McCain 96,765 36%

Change: McCain +16

Demographics: 12% African American, 17% Hispanic, 16% Asian, 50% White

Communities of Interest: Sacramento, Elk Grove,

Status: Safe Democratic

Although her district picks up some moderate Sacramento suburbs, her district still remains strong for her with a base in Sacramento.

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Greater San Francisco area

6th District Lynn Woolsey (D) Petaluma (Teal)

Obama 223,326 68% McCain 99,268 30%

Change: McCain +16

Demographics: 18% Hispanic, 5% Asian, 71% White

Communities of Interest: San Rafael, Petaluma, Napa, Yuba City

Status: Safe Democratic

First, this is my home district! I am not too pleased with this district because Central Valley Democrats will have an influence over voters next to San Francisco. The district is still anchored in the North Bay so when Woolsey retires, a North Bay Democrat will replace her. A good candidate is Jared Huffman, a liberal State Assembly member from Marin County which cast 48% of the district’s Obama votes with 1/3 of the district’s population. Marin County does not have a representative in the State Senate or the House so when Woolsey retires, Marin probably will have one in the House (finally.)

7th District George Miller (D) Martinez

Obama 182,391 68%, McCain 83,750 31%

Change: McCain +8

Demographics: 14% African American, 20% Hispanic, 14% Asian, 46% White

Communities of Interest: Vallejo, Fairfield, Pittsburg

Status: Safe Democratic

George Miller loses most of Richmond and gains all of Solano County which drops the Obama percentage a bit but Miller is still safe.

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San Francisco/Oakland

8th District Nancy Pelosi (D) San Francisco

Obama 282,287 85%, McCain 41,850 12%

Change: McCain +0

Demographics: 8% African American, 15% Hispanic, 29% Asian, 44% White

Communities of Interest: San Francisco

Status: Safe Democratic

Keeping all of San Francisco except part of the Sunset District, the district does not change a bit.

9th District Barbara Lee (D) Oakland

Obama 249,791 84%, McCain 41,860 14%

Change: McCain +8

Demographics: 27% African American, 19% Hispanic, 14% Asian and 36% White

Communities of Interest: Oakland, Berkeley, Lafayette

Status: Safe Democratic

Lee’s district gets a bit more Republican by going into the less Democratic cities in the San Ramon Valley such as Danville and Orinda but still stays extremely safe.

10th District John Garamendi (D)

Obama 208,364 65% McCain 108,189 33%

Change: McCain +0

Demographics: 15% Hispanic, 9% Asian, 67% White

Communities of Interest: El Cerrito, Concord, Antioch, Lodi

Status: Safe Democratic

This district keeps its anchor in north-central Contra Costa County but gains mostly white but heavily Democratic neighborhoods in Oakland and goes further into the Central Valley to pick up Republican parts of San Joaquin County. Also for Garamendi, the district picks up a few more precincts in Sacramento County.

11th District Jerry McNerney (D) Pleasanton

Obama 164,551 58% McCain 115,845 40%

Change: Obama +8

Demographics: 5% African American, 19% Hispanic, 11% Asian, 61% White

Communities of Interest: Pleasanton, Oakley, Tracy

Status: Likely Democratic

McNerney gets safer. I was able to give him Democratic Castro Valley and Oakley while removing the Republican area around Lodi. I slipped in Livermore too because Tauscher does not represent the 10th anymore and she wanted Livermore in her district. McNerney also picks up a few precincts in Stockton from the 18th district. Most of McNerney’s old territory is in the district too.

12th District Jackie Speier (D) Hillsborough

Obama 216,684 74% McCain 70,455 24%

Change: McCain +0

Demographics: Hispanic 20%, Asian 27%, 46% White

Communities of Interest: South San Francisco (the industrial city,) Redwood City, Half Moon Bay

Status: Safe Democratic

The district picks up the San Mateo County coastline and part of Redwood City but besides that, the district remains the same.

13th District Pete Stark (D) Fremont

Obama 183,890 74%, McCain 58,035 24%

Change: McCain +0

Demographics: 7% African American, 25% Hispanic, 23% Asian, 40% White

Communities of Interest: Hayward, Fremont, Santa Clara

Status: Safe Democratic

Stark’s district loses some of Fremont to the plurality Asian 15th and gains minority majority areas in Sunnyvalle and Santa Clara. These changes should not affect the district much.

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South Bay (ignore the unassigned precincts, if I assigned one, all of them would be assigned. No one lives in them either.)

14th District Anna Eshoo (D) Atherton

Obama 220,962 70% McCain 90,352 28%

Change: McCain +6

Demographics: 13% Hispanic, 17% Asian, 64% White

Communities of Interest: Mountain View, Los Altos, San Jose

Status: Safe Democratic

The district loses all of Santa Cruz County and goes into mostly white areas formerly in the 15th district. Although the changes rise the McCain percentage a bit, Eshoo is still very safe and has her home in the district.

15th District Mike Honda (D) San Jose

Obama: 170,000 70% McCain 69,345 28%

Change: Obama +4

Demographics: 18% Hispanic, 43% Asian, 31% White

Communities of Interest: Fremont, San Jose, Cupertino

Status: Safe Democratic

This is one of the two Asian plurality districts I created on the map. I added Union City and Asian parts of Fremont while removing white neighborhoods in western San Jose. Honda should be safe here.

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Central/Southern California

16th District Zoe Lofgren (D) San Jose

Obama 130,902 67% McCain 60,558 32%

Change: McCain +6

Demographics: 13% Asian, 50% Hispanic, 29% White

Communities of Interest: Fresno, Watsonville, San Jose

Status: Safe Democratic

I think Zoe is a great representative but I had to create more districts for Hispanic representatives. This district keeps Hispanic areas in San Jose and picks up Hispanic areas in San Benito, Santa Cruz and Fresno Counties. Although 50% Hispanic is barely a majority, the number should be 54% about now and Hispanics outside her district are not used to voting for her in the primary.

17th District Sam Farr (D) Carmel (purple)

Obama 216,197 65% McCain 109,291 33%

Change: McCain +14

Demographics: 17% Hispanic, 6% Asian, 71% White

Communities of Interest: San Carlos, Santa Cruz, Monterey

Status: Safe Democratic

The district gets whiter and safer for Farr. It is interesting though having a district represent Peninsula and San Luis Obisbo communities. I removed Hispanic parts of Monterey County and San Benito County while adding Republican eastern San Luis Obisbo County as well as some white San Mateo County neighborhoods. Farr is still very safe.

18th District Dennis Cardoza (D) Atwater

Obama 96,786 61% McCain 59,722 37%

Change: Obama +4

Demographics: 6% African American, 46% Hispanic, 8% Asian, 36% White

Communities of Interest: Stockton, Modesto, Merced

Status: Safe Democratic

Cardoza loses whiter parts of Merced County and picks up more Hispanic neighborhoods in Madera County, making the district a tad more Democratic and Hispanic.

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Fresno area

19th District George Radanovich (R) Mariposa (light green)

Obama 115,407 41% McCain 157,413 57%

Change: McCain +10

Communities of Interest: Clovis, Madera, Merced

Status: Safe Republican

Radanovich’s district was safe already but now it is even safer with the removal of Democratic parts of Fresno and the inclusion of Republican parts of Merced. Also, Yosemite National Park which is Democratic was removed.

20th District Jim Costa (D) Fresno (tan/pink)

Obama 91,480 59% McCain 61,190 40%

Change: McCain +2

Demographics: 6% African American, 55% Hispanic, 7% Asian, 27% White

Communities of Interest: Fresno, Salinas, Shafter

Status: Safe Democratic

Although Costa’s district picks up Democratic and Hispanic areas in Monterey County, the district grows more Republican as it extends into Republican white areas around Fresno formerly in the 19th district. Costa’s district is still Hispanic and Democratic.

21st District Devin Nunes (R) Tulare

Obama 70,892 53% McCain 61,228 46%

Change: Obama +22

Demographics: 63% Hispanic, 25% White

Communities of Interest: Bakersfield, Visalia, Delano

Status: Likely Democratic

This is the new Hispanic majority district in the Central Valley. Nunes’s district now takes in Hispanic parts of Fresno County and Hispanic parts of Tulare County. The district also takes in Hispanic parts of Bakersfield. This district is probably too Hispanic for Nunes so he will probably not run here. The Democrats should find a Hispanic candidate who will help increase the Obama percentage by turning out the Hispanics and having them vote more Democratic. Even if Nunes runs, he should lose.

22nd District Kevin McCarthy (R) Bakersfield

Obama 96,063 37% McCain 161,271 61%

Change: McCain +2

Demographics: 22% Hispanic, 67% White

Communities of Interest: Bakersfield, Visalia, California City

Status: Safe Republican

McCarthy’s district changes as it loses San Luis Obisbo County and picks up Republican parts of Tulare and Ventura Counties. It even goes into Simi Valley which is close to the San Fernando Valley. Nunes might run in this district because the 21st is too Democratic for him. McCarthy should win because most of his current district is in the new 22nd district.

23rd District Lois Capps (D) Santa Barbara

Obama 187,384 61% McCain 115,227 37%

Change: McCain +10

Demographics: 31% Hispanic, 60% White

Communities of Interest: San Luis Obisbo, Santa Barbara, Ventura

Status: Safe Democratic

Capps’s district gets less Democratic. I removed heavily Hispanic Oxnard and added the Republican interior of Santa Barbara County. I also added Ventura and Ojai which lean Democratic. The only place where Capps’s district is a line along the coast is in San Luis Obisbo County. Although her district becomes similar to the competitive 1990’s lines, she is entrenched enough and the areas trended Democratic enough to protect her.

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Greater Los Angeles area

24th District Elton Gallegy (R) Simi Valley

Obama 149,125 59% McCain 100,007 40%

Change: Obama +16

Demographics: 39% Hispanic, 9% Asian, 45% White

Communities of Interest: Oxnard, Moorpark, San Fernando Valley

Status: Likely Democratic

Gallegy’s district gets much more Democratic and the Hispanic population rises from 24% to 39% with the inclusion of Oxnard, Hispanic areas in the San Fernando Valley and the loss of interior Santa Barbara County. Although Gallegy is a popular incumbent, the 24th district is too Democratic. He is also not entrenched in Oxnard and the San Fernando Valley. This should get him to retire which he has been considering. This is a good district for Brad Sherman to run in because his district is combined with the more entrenched Howard Berman. The 24th also contains part of Sherman’s current district. If Sherman ran, he would definitely win here.

25th District Buck McKeon (R) Santa Clarita

Obama 135,401 55% McCain 106,766 43%

Change: Obama +10

Demographics: 9% African American, 31% Hispanic, 51% White

Communities of Interest: Lancaster, Victorville, South Lake Tahoe

Status: Toss Up/Tilt Democratic

Although Buck McKeon does not live in the district, it belongs to him because it contains most of his old territory. It will be harder for him to win because I added the Democratic Lake Tahoe area, moved Republican Santa Clarita into the 27th and added a few Hispanic neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley. Although McKeon is popular, the district is trending Democratic, especially around Lancaster and Palmdale. If the Democrats find a great candidate, they should be able to kick off McKeon.

26th District Vacant (D)

Obama 128,868 63% McCain 71,638 36%

Change: N/A

Demographics: 5% African American, 56% Hispanic, 8% Asian, 28% White

Communities of Interest: Upland, Glendora, San Fernando

Status: Safe Democratic

This new district is also a new Hispanic majority district. It looks like David Dreier’s (R) current district but this district picks up heavily Hispanic areas instead of areas that lean Republican. It does contain Glendora which is Republican though. Still, a Democratic should have no trouble winning here and a 56% Hispanic population (and increasing) should be enough to elect a Hispanic representative.

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Inner LA area (I removed the numbers to make the districts easier to see. You can see the numbers in the picture above this one.)

27th District Howard Berman (D) vs. Brad Sherman (D) Green

Obama 204,550 65% McCain 104,583 33%

Change: McCain +22

Demographics: 20% Hispanic, 8% Asian, 64% White

Communities of Interest: Santa Clarita, San Fernando Valley, Burbank

Status: Safe Democratic

Berman’s district gets less Democratic with the inclusion of Santa Clarita and more white but remains heavily Democratic. Sherman has less territory here than Berman so if I were Sherman, I would run in the 24th District which has part of Sherman’s current territory.

28th District Adam Schiff (D) Burbank (originally the 29th)

Obama 179,592 68% McCain 80,069 30%

Change: McCain +0

Demographics: 6% African American, 32% Hispanic, 13% Asian, 43% White

Communities of Interest: Pasadena, Glendale, La Canada Flitridge

Status: Safe Democratic

Schiff’s district remains pretty similar with a high enough white population to keep him in office and Democratic.

29th District Henry Waxman (D) Los Angeles (originally the 30th)

Obama 245,543 68% McCain 111,756 30%

Change: McCain +4

Demographics: 10% Hispanic, 9% Asian, 76% White

Communities of Interest: Thousand Oaks, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica

Status: Safe Democratic

Waxman’s district picks up marginal Thousand Oaks and loses a few Democratic areas in the San Fernando Valley. These minor changes do not affect the district’s strong Democratic lean.

30th District Xavier Beccara (D) Eagle Rock (originally the 31st)

Obama 141,239 81% McCain 29,245 17%

Change: Obama +2

Demographics: 5% African American, 61% Hispanic, 15% Asian, 16% White

Communities of Interest: Monterey Park, Los Angeles

Status: Safe Democratic

Beccara’s district was formerly 70% Hispanic but now has less Hispanics with the inclusion of white areas formerly in Watson’s district. Beccara’s district is still heavily Hispanic and safely Democratic though.

31st District Judy Chu (D) Monterey Park (tan) (originally the 32nd)

Obama 132,559 62% McCain 78,365 36%

Change: McCain +12

Demographics: 39% Hispanic, 38% Asian, 18% White

Communities of Interest: El Monte, Temple City, Walnut

Status: Safe Democratic

I know that Asians do not vote as one bloc but I think if given the choice, they will support an Asian candidate over a Hispanic one. Chu’s district gets more Asian with a small line to Walnut and Diamond Bar and the exclusion of Baldwin Park and the vicinity. I wanted to protect communities of interest but the district had to follow the VRA. Her district gets more Republican but she is still safe.

32nd District Diane Watson (D) Los Angeles (originally the 33rd) Orange color

Obama 149,611 83% McCain 28,305 16%

Change: McCain +8

Demographics: 20% African American, 53% Hispanic, 11% Asian, 12% White

Communities of Interest: Los Angeles, Culver City, Huntington Park

Status: Safe Democratic

Watson is retiring and the Hispanic population is getting too high in Los Angeles to keep three districts with African American representatives. I removed white areas in the northern part of the district and added Hispanic areas on the east and west sides of the original 35th district while taking out some African American areas in the district’s center. The Hispanic population will keep growing so the district should elect a Hispanic.

33rd District Lucille Roybal Allard (D) Los Angeles (formerly the 34th)

Obama 123,083 66% McCain 59,211 32%

Change: McCain +18

Demographics: 74% Hispanic, 18% White

Communities of Interest: Huntington Park, Downey, La Habra

Status: Safe Democratic

Allard’s district gets more Republican with losing some Hispanic areas in Los Angeles and adding whiter Whitter and La Habra. Although La Habra is Republican, Allard’s district is still safe and Democratic.

34th District Maxine Waters (D)

Obama 202,877 88% McCain 23,877 10%

Change: Obama +10

Demographics: 43% African American, 41% Hispanic, 7% Asian, 6% White

Communities of Interest: Los Angeles, Inglewood, Gardena

Status: Safe Democratic

Waters’s district gets safer as the African American population increases from 34% to 43%. Also, something interesting is you can see how high African American turnout really was by looking at the precincts. There were 930 votes in a 92% African American precinct with 1,380 people.

35th District Jane Harman (D) Venice (formerly the 36th) Purple

Obama 192,875 62% McCain 113,650 36%

Change: McCain +4

Demographics: 26% Hispanic, 15% Asian, 51% White

Communities of Interest: Torrance, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach

Status: Safe Democratic

Harman’s district gets more Republican with the addition of Rancho Palos Verdes which leans Republican. Communities in the district’s northern part like Venice keep Harman safe though.

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Orange County area

36th District Laura Richardson (D) Long Beach (formerly the 37th)

Obama 162,948 71% McCain 61,850 28%

Change: McCain +18

Demographics: 22% African American, 40% Hispanic, 11% Asian, 23% White

Communities of Interest: Carson, Compton, Seal Beach

Status: Safe Democratic

Adding Orange County communities that lean Republican such as Seal Beach and Los Alamitos make this district more Republican. They also reduce the Hispanic population by a few points though. Richardson should have no problems from Republicans in a district where McCain won 28% of the vote though.

37th District Grace Napolitiano (D) Norwalk (formerly the 38th district)(blue)

Obama 131,462 67% McCain 59,629 31%

Change: McCain +8

Demographics: 66% Hispanic, 15% Asian, 14% White

Communities of Interest: Baldwin Park, Chino Hills, Pico Rivera

Status: Safe Democratic

Grace Napolitiano (D) has her home in the 38th district but she should run here because this district has most of her current district. The district becomes a bit gerrymandered by having the 32nd cut into the middle of it. Also, her district gets Republican Chino Hills. It is still safely Democratic though.

38th District Linda Sanchez (D) Lakewood (formerly the 39th)

Obama 135,584 60% McCain 87,210 38%

Change: McCain +12

Demographics: 6% African American, 54% Hispanic, 9% Asian, 29% White

Communities of Interest: Lynwood, Bellflower, Fullerton

Status: Safe Democratic

Napolitiano should run in the 37th district so Sanchez should be safe from a primary challenge. Also, the district should be Hispanic and Democratic enough to protect her from Republicans. Her district does get weaker with the addition of Republican parts of Fullerton though.

39th District Ed Royce (R) Fullerton (formerly the 40th district)

Obama 113,574 54% McCain 93,975 44%

Change: Obama +14

Demographics: 40% Hispanic, 18% Asian, 35% White

Communities of Interest: Norwalk, Cypress, Anaheim

Status: Toss Up/Tilt Democratic

Royce’s district gets much more Democratic with the addition of Democratic parts of Anaheim, Norwalk and he loses Republican parts of Fullerton to the 42nd. Royce is pretty entrenched in his district but not in the Norwalk area so Democrats have a strong shot at replacing him. I wish I could have done more to protect communities of interest in this district though. Also, it would not be easy for a Republican to win in a 35% White district (and decreasing.)

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Inland Empire

40th District David Dreier (R) San Dimas (formerly the 26th)

Obama 127,168 58% McCain 89,498 40%

Change: Obama +14

Demographics: 7% African American, 46% Hispanic, 7% Asian, 37% White

Communities of Interest: Pomona, Upland, Rancho Cucamonga

Status: Likely Democratic

Dreier is a pretty popular incumbent but even he will have trouble in a 58% Obama district with unfamiliar territory such as Azusa, Ontario and Pomona. He also loses the most Republican parts of his current district. Dreier will probably not run and a Democrat will win easily. If Dreier runs, he will probably not be strong enough to compete with the new Democratic areas. I hope a Hispanic politician wins this seat and although Hispanics do not make a large share of voters, there should be more in the Democratic primary.

41st District Jerry Lewis (R) Redlands

Obama 104,391 41% McCain 147,051 57%

Change: McCain +6

Demographics: 20% Hispanic, 69% White

Communities of Interest: Hesperia, Beaumont, Yucaipa

Status: Safe Republican

Lewis was extremely safe before and he gets even safer. Enough said.

42nd District Gary Miller (R) Diamond Bar

Obama 131,169 40% McCain 189,640 58%

Change: McCain +10

Demographics: 15% Hispanic, 8% Asian, 71% White

Communities of Interest: Yorba Linda, Murrieta, Rancho Santa Margarita

Status: Safe Republican

Miller loses his home but he does not have to live in this district to run. His district gets more Republican by picking up the Lake Forest area formerly in the 44th and Murrieta formerly in the 45th. He has no worries.

43rd District Joe Baca (D) Rialto

Obama 107,522 66% McCain 52,753 32%

Change: McCain +4

Demographics: 14% African American, 51% Hispanic, 5% Asian, 27% White

Communities of Interest: San Bernadino, Fontana, Ontario

Status: Safe Democratic

Baca’s district gets less Hispanic but the Hispanic population is growing quickly and he is entrenched enough to survive. He should have no problems from Republicans though.

44th District Ken Calvert (R) Corona

Obama 92,733 56% McCain 70,846 43%

Change: Obama +12

Demographics: 7% African American, 43% Hispanic, 5% Asian, 41% White

Communities of Interest: Riverside, Norco, Colton

Status: Likely Democratic

In 2008, Calvert barely won reelection but he lost Riverside County. Now with the Republican parts of Orange County removed, Calvert is in trouble. I also removed Republican areas in Riverside County too and the addition of heavily Hispanic Colton does not help Calvert either. Since Calvert was already weak, it should not be too difficult to find a challenger, get the DCCC interested and kick out Calvert.

45th District Mary Bono (R) Palm Springs

Obama 113,612 57% McCain 82,064 42%

Change: Obama +10

Demographics: 10% African American, 36% Hispanic, 46% White

Communities of Interest: Moreno Valley, Perris, San Jacinto

Status: Lean Democratic

Bono is a popular moderate incumbent but she will probably lose here. I added Democratic Perris and Lake Elsinore while removing Hemet. Also, the district has fast growing African American and Hispanic populations so if a Democrat is not reelected in 2012, a Democrat certainly will be soon.

46th District Dana Rohrabacher (R) Huntington Beach

Obama 163,591 55% McCain 127,405 43%

Change: Obama +10

Demographics: 23% Hispanic, 13% Asian, 58% White

Communities of Interest: Long Beach, Irvine, Costa Mesa

Status: Lean Democratic

Rohrabacher keeps most of his old district where he is entrenched. Still, the addition of Irvine and Democratic Long Beach areas should be enough to unseat him with a good candidate.

47th District Loretta Sanchez (D) Garden Grove

Obama 89,040 55% McCain 69,075 43%

Change: McCain +10

Demographics: 55% Hispanic, 19% Asian, 21% White

Communities of Interest: Santa Ana, Anaheim, Tustin

Status: Likely Democratic

Sanchez’s district gets less Democratic and Hispanic but Sanchez is entrenched and should win Hispanic by large margins.

48th District John Campbell (R) Irvine  Peach

Obama 135,283 48% McCain 144,225 51%

Change: McCain +3

Demographics: 21% Hispanic, 7% Asian, 65% White

Communities of Interest: Vista, Oceanside, Lake Forest

Status: Likely Republican

Yes, I know Campbell is a birther but I realized that if I tried to get rid of him, I would make other seats safer for Republicans that I wanted Democratic. Campbell’s district is mostly shifted out of the Irvine area into more conservative Vista and Oceanside. By the end of the decade, Campbell should be vulnerable but for now, he is unfortunately safe.

49th District Darrell Issa (R) Vista

Obama 113,663 39% McCain 175,745 59%

Change: McCain +12

Demographics: 18% Hispanic, 73% White

Communities of Interest: Hemet, Temecula, Poway

Status: Safe Republican

Issa’s home is not in the district but he should not mind. His district gets more Republican with the loss of Perris and Lake Elsinore.

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San Diego

50th District Brian Bilbray (R) Carlsbad

Obama 187,575 56% McCain 144,396 42%

Change: Obama +10

Demographics: 19% Hispanic, 6% Asian, 70% White

Communities of Interest: Carlsbad, Escondido, San Diego

Status: Likely Democratic

Bilbray has faced close races in his currently marginal district but the addition of liberal parts of San Diego near the coast make the district more Democratic. He also loses more conservative areas in the east to the 53rd district. These changes should be enough to elect a Democrat.

51st District Bob Filner (D) San Diego

Obama 112,770 63% McCain 64,790 36%

Change: McCain +0

Demographics: 7% African American, 62% Hispanic, 10% Asian, 19% White

Communities of Interest: Indio, El Centro, Chula Vista

Status: Safe Democratic

I think Bob Filner is fine but I wanted another Hispanic congressman so I increased the Hispanic population from 53% to 62%. Although Filner has not faced many challenges recently, the change in population should attract a strong Hispanic candidate.

52nd District Duncan Hunter Jr. (R) Lakeside

Obama 135,237 56% McCain 101,445 42%

Change: Obama +22

Demographics: 7% African American, 29% Hispanic, 9% Asian, 51% White

Communities of Interest: La Mesa, El Cajon, Chula Vista

Status: Likely Democratic

This district undergoes one of the largest partisan changes under my plan. Duncan Hunter Jr. is new to this district. The addition of Chula Vista and Democratic parts of San Diego unfamiliar with him (and his father) will not help him. The changes should make the district Democratic enough to elect a Democrat.

53rd District Susan Davis (D) San Diego

Obama 167,156 60% McCain 107,595 38%

Change: McCain +16

Demographics: 7% African American, 24% Hispanic, 14% Asian, 51% White

Communities of Interest: Cornado, Imperial Beach, San Diego

Status: Safe Democratic

Davis’s district goes inland and therefore gets more Republican but coastal areas keep this district Democratic.

Still want more election analysis? If yes, please check out my blog http://frogandturtle.blogspot…. Thanks! I have some posts there I have not posted here yet.

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CA-Sen: The Tom Campbell Myth

A week in advance of the California GOP Primary to replace Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, there’s some new hooplah invading the blogosphere over a stunning new poll on the race. The poll, commissioned by the Los Angeles Times, shows that while fmr. Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina is leading the pack to win the nomination, she is performing an entire 13 points worse than fmr. Rep. Tom Campbell against Boxer.

This development has fired-up both the Campbell and Fiorina camps, as Campbell touts the poll as the basis for an electability argument – he can beat Boxer while Fiorina cannot – while Fiorina is rightfully pointing to Campbell’s two failed statewide runs from the past, not to mention the fmr. Congressman’s inability to compete in the state’s Gubernatorial race, which he’d been contesting prior to the Senate run.

Most of my fellow pundits appear to be siding with Campbell’s argument, that a moderate GOP-er can compete with the liberal Boxer, while a conservative like Fiorina, who also happened to be fired from her tenure at HP, probably cannot.

I respectfully disagree with this assertion. I happen to think Fiorina, not Campbell (nor Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, the third candidate in the primary), is actually the strongest candidate to take on the incumbent Boxer. While my colleagues are correct about Campbell’s more centrist record, I believe the fmr. Congressman has two serious electoral problems that Fiorina does not.

For one, Fiorina has the ability to self-fund her campaign, relieving national Republicans from having to pump funds into the most expansive and expensive state in the country. Campbell, who has hardly been a firecracker on the fundraising trail, would need outside support to fund his campaign. Also, and perhaps even more importantly, is the issue of Republican turn-out. Campbell, who is detested by the Tea Party crowd, could face problems in GOTV with his party’s base. While he may have the ability to peel off some conservative Democrats and moderate Independents who wouldn’t take too kindly to Fiorina, if Campbell cannot turn-out the GOP base as well, he absolutely cannot prevail.

Fiorina, on the flip side, is respected among self-described conservatives and even with the Tea Party crowd. Her admiration from the latter has forced the even more conservative DeVore into a distant third. However, I think the fmr. CEO does have the ability to reach out to some moderates and score the necessary numbers among non-affilateds to take down Boxer. Her tenure at HP will surely draw fire from the Boxer camp, and she is prone to making the occasional gaffe.

Alas, if Republicans really want to fulfill their dream of taking out Barbara Boxer, it’s Carly Fiorina, not Tom Campbell, who’s their most golden option.

http://polibeast.blogspot.com/…

Outlook for the California State Legislature in 2010 – May 2010 Edition

While the range of competitive House districts has narrowed considerably, I am still including all 8 Obama-Republican districts to watch their trends. I also added state legislative seats that are open this year in which the incumbent is not term-limited.

Cross-posted at Calitics and Democracy for California.

District Incumbent DEM GOP Margin 2008 Result
CA-03
Dan Lungren
38.41%
39.15%
R+0.74
O+0.5
CA-24
Elton Gallegly
35.72%
41.46%
R+5.74
O+2.8
CA-25
Buck McKeon
37.39%
39.42%
R+2.03
O+1.1
CA-26
David Dreier
35.55%
40.13%
R+4.58
O+4.0
CA-44
Ken Calvert
34.33%
42.75%
R+8.42
O+0.9
CA-45
Mary Bono Mack
37.76%
41.55%
R+3.79
O+4.6
CA-48
John Campbell
29.25%
44.44%
R+15.19
O+0.7
CA-50
Brian Bilbray
31.49%
40.23%
R+8.74
O+4.2

Competitive and/or open state legislature districts are over the flip…

Our current numbers in the Senate are 25 Democrats/14 Republicans/1 Vacant, with winning 2 GOP-held seats necessary for 2/3; and in the Assembly 49 Democrats/29 Republicans/1 Independent (who is term-limited)/1 Vacant (Dem seat which will be filled before Election Day), with winning 3 GOP-held seats necessary for 2/3. Incumbents running for reelection are italicized.

SENATE

Republicans (6)

District Incumbent DEM GOP Margin 2008 Result
SD-04
Sam Aanestad
32.57%
43.77%
R+12.20
M+11.8
SD-12
Jeff Denham
49.85%
31.47%
D+18.38
O+17.6
SD-14
Dave Cogdill
34.06%
46.91%
R+12.85
M+13.2
SD-15
Vacant
40.78%
34.50%
D+6.28
O+20.3
SD-18
Roy Ashburn
31.63%
47.31%
R+15.68
M+23.1
SD-36
Dennis Hollingsworth
29.03%
45.81%
R+16.78
M+14.2

Democrats (6)

District Incumbent DEM GOP Margin 2008 Result
SD-02
Pat Wiggins
49.76%
24.40%
D+15.36
O+39.9
SD-16
Dean Florez
50.63%
31.84%
D+18.79
O+19.5
SD-22
Gilbert Cedillo
58.58%
14.61%
D+43.97
O+58.7
SD-24
Gloria Romero
53.17%
21.13%
D+32.04
O+41.3
SD-34
Lou Correa
44.25%
32.73%
D+11.52
O+16.8
SD-40
Denise Ducheny
46.63%
28.91%
D+17.72
O+25.7

ASSEMBLY

Republicans (19)

District Incumbent DEM GOP Margin 2008 Result
AD-03
Dan Logue
34.34%
39.78%
R+5.44
M+1.6
AD-05
Roger Niello
38.81%
38.30%
D+0.51
O+4.2
AD-25
Tom Berryhill
37.51%
41.42%
R+3.91
M+7.9
AD-26
Bill Berryhill
42.71%
38.57%
D+4.14
O+4.4
AD-30
Danny Gilmore
45.87%
36.18%
D+9.69
O+3.9
AD-32
Jean Fuller
31.06%
48.95%
R+17.89
M+26.7
AD-33
Sam Blakeslee
35.70%
40.74%
R+5.04
O+1.4
AD-36
Steve Knight
38.95%
39.07%
R+0.12
O+0.8
AD-37
Audra Strickland
35.81%
40.97%
R+5.16
O+3.7
AD-38
Cameron Smyth
36.77%
39.51%
R+2.74
O+4.9
AD-59
Anthony Adams
34.63%
42.93%
R+8.30
M+4.8
AD-63
Bill Emmerson
37.87%
40.10%
R+2.23
O+4.1
AD-64
Brian Nestande
35.68%
42.24%
R+5.56
O+1.8
AD-65
Paul Cook
36.62%
41.44%
R+4.82
M+4.1
AD-68
Van Tran
32.67%
40.91%
R+8.24
M+2.9
AD-70
Chuck DeVore
30.02%
42.99%
R+12.97
O+3.9
AD-74
Martin Garrick
30.98%
41.60%
R+10.62
O+2.2
AD-75
Nathan Fletcher
30.87%
39.84%
R+8.97
O+4.1
AD-77
Joel Anderson
30.92%
43.75%
R+12.83
M+13.0

Democrats (19)

District Incumbent DEM GOP Margin 2008 Result
AD-07
Noreen Evans
52.75%
23.42%
D+29.33
O+43.3
AD-09
Dave Jones
55.94%
19.80%
D+36.14
O+49.0
AD-10
Alyson Huber
39.97%
39.03%
D+0.94
O+4.0
AD-11
Tom Torlakson
53.91%
21.78%
D+32.13
O+41.2
AD-15
Joan Buchanan
40.65%
35.65%
D+5.00
O+16.9
AD-20
Alberto Torrico
48.63%
19.89%
D+28.74
O+42.3
AD-21
Ira Ruskin
47.55%
26.25%
D+21.30
O+45.8
AD-23
Joe Coto
51.34%
18.69%
D+32.65
O+44.4
AD-28
Anna Caballero
55.39%
23.31%
D+32.08
O+38.3
AD-31
Juan Arambula
50.88%
32.08%
D+18.80
O+26.1
AD-35
Pedro Nava
47.79%
27.96%
D+19.83
O+35.6
AD-45
Kevin de León
58.83%
12.84%
D+45.99
O+63.6
AD-47
Karen Bass
64.73%
11.20%
D+53.53
O+71.9
AD-50
Hector De La Torre
61.48%
16.40%
D+45.08
O+55.9
AD-57
Ed Hernandez
51.14%
25.19%
D+25.95
O+34.4
AD-76
Lori Saldaña
42.24%
26.81%
D+15.43
O+34.4
AD-78
Martin Block
43.52%
30.78%
D+12.74
O+21.8
AD-79
Mary Salas
48.47%
23.91%
D+24.56
O+31.6
AD-80
Manuel Perez
45.41%
35.39%
D+10.02
O+20.7

CA Redistricting: 7 Dem pickups

This is a redistricting plan based on geographical compactness, population deviation of less than 5,000, and communities of interest (except for one seat).  VRA is ignored, as are current residences of Reps. (There’s a deep bench in California).

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CA-1:blue

California deserves a real NorCal district with a representative from the North Coast.  At the same time, neutralizing highly Republican, quickly growing Redding is a good idea.  Combining liberal Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, and more rural Sonoma Counties with moderate Del Norte, Siskiyou, and Trinity, as well as more conservative Tehama and Shasta creates a D+3 district, from an older D+14 one, which in this part of the country should be likely Dem.  It’s a very, very rural district, with Redding as the population center, although the areas lacks Democrats, and a liberal like Mike Thompson, who lives out of the district, could still win here.  80% White and 11% Hispanic, this district is actually highly similar to Oregon in race and partisan breakdown.  

CA-2: green

So what’s the parallel to the Democratic 1st?  A Republican 2nd, much of McClintock and Herger’s old districts, either could run here.  Herger is more likely to retire due to age, so I’ll give it to McClintock as the old CA-4, remaining R+9.  From very conservative rugged territory in Modoc, Lassen, Plumas and Sierra Counties, as well as Nevada and Placer, the district goes west into the Valley foothills in Butte, taking in Paradise and Oroville, as well as E. Tehama and all of Yuba.  Sacramento Suburbs in the district include Auburn, Rocklin, Loomis, and Roseville.  The North Tahoe area, including Truckee, is also included.  81% White, 10% Hispanic.

CA-3: purple

This is actually Wally Herger’s CA-2, gone from R+10 to D+5.  Herger’s home city of Chico, a college town, is kept along with rural Colusa, Sutter, and Glenn.  However, adding in Thompson’s old Yolo Co., with college town Davis and West Sacramento, a small piece of Lungren’s old 3rd, and some of N. Sacramento from Matsui’s 5th gives this district the Democratic lean we desire.  Lincoln from the old 4th is also in the district.  61% White, 21% Hispanic, and a Democratic PICKUP  D+1

CA-4: red

A tad of Sacramento, suburbs, exurbs, and Tahoe.  I drive from one end of the district to the other every year to go skiing.  This is Lungren’s old 3rd.  Part of Sacramento from the 5th, Sac. Suburbs from like Folsom and Citrus Hts from Lungren’s old 3rd, and El Dorado Co., home of fast growing exurbs and mountainous Tahoe area, from the old 4th.  Obama won by 2,000 votes, so it’s R+3, but with Lungren’s vulnerability in a similar district, also an R+3, it’s still a Toss Up, due to the addition of unfamiliar territory and higher turnout in 2012.  Lungren doesn’t even live in it.  77% White, 10% Hispanic. D+1.5

CA-5: yellow

This old Matsui D+18 Sacramento district is now a much of Sacramento Co. D+10 district, although still maj-min. at 49W, 18H, 15A, 12B.  Lungren actually lives here, I believe, but Matsui’s still safe.  Rural Amador, Calaveras, and Alpine Cos. are also in this district, from Lungren’s old district.

CA-6: turqoise

Yes, it’s new, and it combines Bay Area with Central Valley.  However, Fairfield and Vacaville are arguably as much Sacramento as they are Bay Area.  The N. Half of Solano, from Garamendi and Miller’s districts, contains these cities.  A piece of Lungren’s is in here, too.  Half of Stockton is from Cardoza’s (no racial gerrymandering here).  The rest: other half of Stockton, Lodi, and rural areas, comes from Garamendi’s D+13 district, making his new one D+4, which should still be Likely D, Lean D in open years.  47W, 27H, 12A.  

CA-7: gray

So what’s in Mike Thompson’s new district, if he runs where he actually resides?  Well, liberal Bay Area Napa Co. from the 1st, Benicia (a former state capital), Vallejo, and Suisun City in the North Bay, which are from Miller and Garamendi’s districts, Miller’s Pittsburg, and Garamendi’s Antioch and Oakley.  McNerney’s Brentwood and Tracy (a Central Valley city attached to the old 11th to help Pombo, although it now leans left) finishes up the district.  McNerney could run here, as he’s out of a district, his old D+2 becoming D+14.  52W, 22H, 11A, 10B.  

CA-8: periwinkle

There’s nothing we can do to Lynn Woolsey’s district to make it closer to D+5 or so, so this old D+24 district remains the same PVI.  Gone are the coastal areas of Sonoma, adding the city of Sonoma from the old 1st and the North Beach, Marina, and Presidio of San Francisco from Pelosi’s old 8th.  75W, 13H

CA-9: light blue

Pelosi’s D+34 8th is now the D+33 9th, but little changes, losing a piece of SF and adding the SW part instead.  40W, 32A, 15H.

CA-10: pink

This is Speier’s district.  It goes from D+22 to D+21, losing nearly all of its SF portion, keeping San Mateo Co., and adding the old San Mateo Co. portions of Eshoo’s district: Half Moon Bay, Woodside, Menlo Park, Atherton, Redwood City, and Portola Valley.  50W (maj-min.), 22A, 20H.

CA-11: green

Eshoo gets bumped up three spots, to the 11th district, and moving from D+21 to D+20.  She keeps East Palo Alto from San Mateo Co. and all of her Santa Clara Co. portion (Saratoga, my hometown of Los Altos, Mtn View, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale) and adds Santa Clara, Cupertino, Los Gatos, and part of San Jose from Honda’s district.  54W, 26A, 13H

CA-12: blue

Honda picks up a lot more of San Jose and keeps Campbell and Gilroy while adding Morgan Hill from McNerney’s district (what a gerrymander that one was).  From D+16 to D+15.  47W, 27H, 19A

CA-13: salmon

Lofgren loses a lot of her old San Jose territory in her old D+17 district to Honda, and changes her district by adding Milpitas from Honda’s, hilly areas from McNerney, as well as his Dublin and Pleasanton, and Stark’s Newark.  It’s now D+14 and 37W, 28H, 27A.  

CA-14: puke

Pete Stark moves northward as well (all this from extending CA-1 southward), from his old, cozy, D+22 to his new, still Fremont/Union City/Hayward/San Leandro-based, but adding Lee’s S. Oakland and Castro Valley, for a now cozier D+26 district, 31W, 24A, 24H, 16B.

CA-15: orange

Barbara Lee’s district, previously at D+36, doesn’t have to be VRA, and so she now has her old N. Oakland and Berkeley along with Stark’s Alameda and Miller’s Richmond for a still D+36, but now 38W, 21B, 19A, 17H district.

CA-16: bright green

Miller is relocated entirely South of the Bay, keeping Martinez and Concord and adding Garamendi’s Walnut Creek, Lafayette, and Pleasant Hill and McNerney’s San Ramon and Danville.  It then goes into the valley, like McNerney’s old district (Miller could retire with McNerney running here)to get Manteca, Lathrop, and Ripon,from McNerney and Radanovich’s districts, Republican areas that can be neutralized here.  From D+19 to D+10.  70W, 14H, 10A.

CA-17: dark purple

Radanovich’s replacement will be safe here, the district goes from R+7 to R+11, keeping Oakdale, Yosemite, and Madera Co. and adding Merced and Atwater from Cardoza’s district.  56W, 33H.

CA-18: yellow

Devin Nunes is still fine here, but it goes from R+11 to R+9.  It keeps Tulare, Porterville, Clovis, and Visalia while adding N. Fresno from Radanovich, as well as rural areas from Costa.  45H, 45W.

CA-19: forest green

This is Cardoza’ new district; he won’t be as happy, but that’s the price to pay for making stuff look nice. From D+7 to D+2 isn’t terrible, and at least Cardoza’ a Blue Dog, but still, it likely would be Lean D instead of Safe D, or something like that.  He keeps Modesto, Ceres, and Los Banos, adds Turlock from Radanovich, and takes part of Costa and Radanovich’s Fresno.  48W, 38H.  Plus, making Cardoza vulnerable will look bipartisan. D+1 again.

CA-20: pink

Jim Costa still very safe, however.  Right now, he’s D+7, it jumps to D+16 with the one super-gerrymandered district.  To help make SoCal more Democratic, Santa Cruz Co and rural San Benito Co are combined with the Central Valley, namely S. Fresno, Hanford, and rural areas from his old district.  I’m sorry.  42W, 42H.

CA-21: maroon

Don’t worry, I didn’t forget about Sam Farr, it’s just that his district is really Central California now.  He keeps Monterey Co. but adds more conservative Atascadero, Paso Robles, and Taft from McCarthy and Wasco, Delano, and Shafter from Costa, going from D+20 to D+7.  48W, 40H.

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CA-22: brown

So there have to be two Republican Central Valley districts, so here’s McCarthy’s.  He keeps Bakersfield and California City, but now adds some of N. LA Co.  His district doesn’t really change much, though, from R+15 (in California!) to R+13.  54W, 33H.

CA-23: light blue

Alright, Lois Capps, how well can you poll more than 2 miles inland?  Well, it seems she can do OK.  Adding some of McCarthy’s inland SLO Co. and Gallegly’s inland SB and Ventura Cos. to her own coastal cities like Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, and Ventura, she goes from D+14 to D+7, not a huge change. 63W, 28H.

CA-24: deep purple

Elton Gallegly has a shot, but it just went from R+2 to D+2.  He’ll probably retire, leaving it at Lean Dem.  He keeps Moorpark, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Camarillo, and adds Oxnard from Capps’ district and Malibu from Waxman’s.  56W, 33H.  This is the third toss up. D+1.5

CA-25: rose

This is Buck McKeon’s old district, but he’ll be retiring.  From R+3 to D+6, this district, which Brad Sherman will now probably run in, contains parts of Waxman, Sherman, and Berman’s LA, along with Santa Clarita from McKeon’s old district.  He’s gone.  PICKUP  59W, 26H. D+2.5

CA-26: gray

This is an open district, it’s what Sherman’s district got moved to.  From D+14 to D+8, that is.  Some Democrat will win.  It contains parts of Berman and Sherman’s LA, Dreier’s La Canada Flintridge, and Lancaster and Palmdale from McKeon.  48H, 33W.  

CA-27: bright green

Howard Berman has no issues here.  Right now, he has a D+24, but this will change him to a D+18.  No alarm.  Berman, Sherman, and Waxman’s LA districts are all represented, along with Schiff’s Burbank.  48W, 35H.

CA-28: light purple

This is David Dreier’s old R+1 district.  Now it’s a Democrat’s D+8 district.  How fun.  Take Pasadena, Alhambra, San Gabriel, and Temple from Schiff, add Dreier’s San Marino, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, Bradbury, Monrovia, Glendora, San Dimas, and La Verne, and then include Chu’s Irwindale, Azusa, and Duarte, and we’ve got a 38W, 31H, 21A Safe Dem district from Dreier’s old Lean R one. PICKUP D+3.5

CA-29: ugly green

Adam Schiff gets to keep his number, and his district, somewhat.  From D+16 to D+23, this actually helps him.  He keeps Glendale and South Pasadena and adds LA from Becerra and Berman.  38W, 37H, 16A.

CA-30: salmon

Henry Waxman stays very similar, from D+18 to D+26, but safe either way.  He keeps Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Hollywood, and adds Harman’s and Waters’s pieces of LA and Culver City from Watson.  53W, 19H, 13B, 10A.

CA-31: pale yellow

I don’t think Jane Harman’s going to keep her district.  Maxine Waters will primary her out.  Blue Dog Harman goes from a manageable D+12 to D+26.  Only a minority Blue Dog could survive here.  El Segundo and Beach Areas stay in the district, and Waters’s Gardena, Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, and a slice of L.A.  39H, 33B, 18W.

CA-32: orange

Xavier Becerra goes from D+28 to D+29.  Does it matter? All L.A., 53H, 17W, 16A, 11B.

CA-33: blue

This is the new district created by merging Harman and Waters.  Harman could technically run here (although I consider it Waters’s old district), it went from D+32 to D+14, much like Harman’s old one.  Torrance, Lomita, and a bit of LA are from her old district, while Richardson’s Compton, Carson, and the hills areas are in as well.  I think Harman would run, but hopefully lose in the primary.  38H, 28W, 16B, 15A.  

CA-34: green

Lucille Roybal-Allard’s district rises from D+23 to D+36.  It has LA, Bell, Vernon, and Huntington Park.  It’s 79%H, 15%B, and only 2% White!!!! She’s safe.

CA-35: purple

Napolitano’s old district was D+19.  Her new one is only D+14.  It’s got a lot of Eastern LA Co.  60H, 19W,11A.

CA-36: orange

Ed Royce won’t enjoy this.  That’s good for us.  He’s used to R+6.  He now has D+7.  Good luck, Mr. Royce.  Have a fun retirement.  Royce keeps Fullerton, adds Miller’s Brea, La Habra,  and Whittier, and then takes in Pico Rivera, Montebello, and Santa Fe Springs from Linda Sanchez.  55H, 27W, 14A.  Does any Republican represent a district that’s 27% White? PICKUP D+4.5

CA-37: bright blue

Judy Chu moves a bit, not too much.  D+16 to D+17.  Keeps Monterey Park, Rosemead, South El Monte, Baldwin Park, W. Covina, and Covina.  Adds La Puente from Napolitano.  64H, 20A, 12W.

CA-38: light greenish

While we’re getting rid of OC Republicans, let’s get rid of the only one from LA County: Gary Miller.  Miller goes from R+8 to D+6 in this district.  He keeps Diamond Bar, Chino, Chino Hills, and part of Yorba Linda.  He adds Walnut, Montclair, and Claremont from Dreier, Pomona from Napolitano, and Ontario from Baca.  And here we have 46H, 30W, 13A.  And no more Gary Miller. PICKUP D+5.5

CA-39: pale

Keep the most endangered Republican safe.  Make them happy.  Ken Calvert goes from R+3 to R+10.  He’ll love this plan.  He keeps Corona and Norco and adds Tustin from Campbell, Orange and Villa Park from Miller, and there: 56W, 28H.

CA-40: maroonish

Laura Richardson started at D+28.  Now she’s at D+7.  But it’s ok.  She keeps about a third of Long Beach and adds Lakewood from Linda Sanchez, Buena Park and Cypress from Royce, and most of Anaheim from Loretta Sanchez.  41H, 32W, 15A.

CA-41: grayish-blue

So, I really wanted to get rid of Rohrabacher.  I tried.  Best I can get while keeping beach communities together is this D+3.  He currently has R+5. I’d say he’s a toss-up.  He takes Richardson’s Long Beach and Royce’s Los Alamitos adds it to his own Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, and Costa Mesa.  54W, 27H, 10A. D+6

CA-42: bright green

Loretta Sanchez’s district.  Keeps Garden Grove and Santa Ana, adds Westminster and Fountain Valley from Ol’ Dana, and Stanton from Royce.  From D+8 to D+0, but I think she can hold on. 51H, 24W, 20A.  D+5.5

CA-43: pink

John Campbell currently resides in an R+3 district, and it changes to an R+4, still a Safe Republican OC district (the only one, unless you count Rohrabacher as safe).  He keeps Irvine, Dana Pt., and the Lagunas while Calvert’s Mission Viejo.  71W, 13A, 12H.

CA-44: magenta

Darrell Issa’s district’s moved here, and he doesn’t live in it.  However, he’s young, popular, and wealthy, so he’d probably still run.  It goes from R+8 to R+12.  He keeps Lake Elsinore and Temecula and adds San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente from Calvert, Murrieta, Hemet, and La Quinta from Bono Mack, and a lot of rural, desert-y area.  71W, 21H.

CA-45: light blue

Jerry Lewis, the Republicans’ Appropriations (earmarks) leader, moves from R+9 to R+1, a tossup (lean R with incumbency).  So I can say D+6 total.  He takes Baca’s San Bernardino and Colton and adds his own Highland, Redlands, Yucaipa, Calimesa, Banning, Beaumont, and San Jacinto.  48W, 34H.

CA-46: orange

Linda Sanchez’s D+13 LA Area district becomes a D+8 Inland Empire District.  It will have a new, probably Hispanic, representative.  It takes Riverside from Calvert, Perris from Issa, and Moreno Valley from Bono Mack.  40H, 39W, 11B

CA-47: pale purple

So Joe Baca goes from D+16 to D+6, but he’s still safe.  He keeps Fontana, Rialto, and Colton, and adds Rancho Cucamonga and Upland from Dreier.  46H, 36W, 10B

CA-48: light orange

Most redistricting plans I’ve seen take out Bono Mack, but I’d rather remove Duncan Hunter and keep Bono Mack safe.  From R+1 to R+7 she goes.  She keeps only Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, and Indian Wells, while adding much of Lewis’s old district in Desert Hot Springs, Yucca Valley, Twentynine Palms, Hesperia, Apple Valley, and Needles.  She also takes Barstow, Victorville, and Adelanto from McKeon. 62W, 26H.

CA-49: earthy red

I’m not sure who’s district this changes to update: it’s Watson’s, but it was certainly an R leaning district before.  Now it’s D+4.  So that’s 6 pickups.  By taking Indio, Coachella, and all of rural Riverside Co. in the East from Bono Mack, along with Blythe, and combining it with Filner’s Imperial Co., Chula Vista, and the border part of San Diego, and then taking rural areas from Hunter and Issa, you’ve got a pretty safe district.  60H, 27W.

CA-50: light blue

Brian Bilbray is still safe, from R+1 to R+7.  He takes Issa’s Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, and Vista and adds his own Carlsbad, San Marcos, and Escondido.  58W, 30H.

CA-51: brown

I think we can win a D+3, especially since it came from Hunter’s old R+8 and he doesn’t live in it.  7 pickups for us.  Take Bilbray’s Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, UC San Diego, and Hunter’s N. Poway, and add Davis’s La Jolla and W. San Diego, and we’re safe.  71W, 14A, 10H.

CA-52: green

Susan Davis gets a D+6 district, rather than D+16.  She takes part of Poway, E. San Diego, and El Cajon from Hunter, along with his home rural area and La Mesa and adds some of her own San Diego.  60W, 20H

CA-53: white

The last one.  Bob Filner goes from D+11 to D+5.  It has his old S. San Diego area and Davis’s area plus her Coronado.  40W, 34H, 11B, 11A.

There it is, I’m done.  

California Redistricting

There seems to be a flurry of people attempting to redistrict California, so my plan may seem less adventurous than others – especially when compared to the Herculean effort by Silver Springs.

However, I have a different purpose – I want to create a Democratic map that respects existing political lines – cities and counties. The bottom line is that I create a map that creates 39 safe Democratic seats, 8 safe Republican seats, and 6 toss-up seats (each of the toss-up seats were won by Obama. Based on the 2000 demographic data, I create a map with 31 minority-majority districts, including 10 majority Hispanic districts and a plurality African-American district. (*I believe that my CA 45 will be minority-majority with the new census).

Like my NY contest entry, I claim that a safe Democratic seat is one where Obama won with 55% of the vote (Seven Republicans represent districts that gave Obama 55%/16 Republcans represent districts Obama won by over 53%). I have included in my description of each district where the current incumbents live, but their residences did not play a factor in how I drew the map. The map also has no deviation in district size greater than 702.

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Northern California

In Northern California, there are five seats, Currently, Republicans hold three of the seats.

In this map, I created three safe Democratic seats, one tossup and one safe Republican seat. To do this, I decided to weaken CA 1 and pack Republicans into CA 4. I did keep the City of Sacramento intact, while dividing the rest of the county amongst 4 other districts.

CA 1 Current Incumbent – none

Population – 706,684

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 80% 1% 2% 10%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 66% 32% 60%
New District 55% 42%  
Change -11% +10% -5%

This district sheds territory in the Sacramento Valley for counties on California’s northern border – Siskiyou, Shasta, Modoc, and Lassen counties. While Representative Thompson no longer resides in the district, he, or another Democrat should continue to find this seat winnable.

CA 1 and CA 2 are tough districts to draw. On one hand, I could draw one very safe Democratic district that includes Humbolt, Mendicno, Lake, Napa and portions of Yolo (and Solono) counties. On the other hand, I could draw two 55% Obama districts. At worse, both seats are toss-up seats in open-seat elections.

CA 2 Current Incumbent – Thompson (D-St Helena); Herger (R-Chico)

Population – 706,763

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 68% 3% 6% 19%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 43% 55% 37%
New District 55% 44%  
Change +12% -12% +18%

The Northern California districts in the current map generally align North-South, creating two safe Republican seats. In my map, District 2 goes down the West side of the Sacramento Valley, extends into Napa County and South to Vacaville. This should be a strong Democratic seat, and Representative Herger should be in trouble.

CA 3 Current Incumbent – Lundgren (R-Gold River)

Population – 706,602

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 70% 5% 7% 12%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 43% 55% 37%
New District 53% 45%  
Change +10% -11% +16%

The Northern California districts in the current map generally align North-South, creating two safe Republican seats. In my map, District 2 hugs the Nevada border, from Plumas to Alpine County. The District stretches into Sacramento County and takes in the suburban areas immediately to the east and south of Sacramento.

This will likely be a swing district for the foreseeable future, but I expect that growth will occur in the Sacramento suburbs and the district will continue to trend Democratic.

CA 4 Current Incumbent – none

Population – 706,552

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 78% 2% 5% 11%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 44% 54%  37%
New District 44% 54%  
Change 0% 0%  +7%

CD 4 is composed of the northern Sacramento suburbs and exurbs in Placer and Yuba counties, as well as the Cities of Folsom and Citrus Heights in Sacramento County. Representative McClintock (Thousand Oaks) still does not live in this district.

Reflecting the changing demographics, the district becomes slightly less white than before 84% – 78%, but it is unlikely to become more hospitable for Democrats anytime soon.

CA 5 Current Incumbent – Matsui (D-Sacramento)

Population – 706,349

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 50% 12% 1% 14%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 70% 28%  61%
New District 64% 34%  
Change -6% +6%  +3%

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The District encompasses the City of Sacramento and extends north to Sutter County. The District becomes slightly whiter and more Republican, but it remains a safe Democratic seat.

This District is a minority-majority seat.

CA 10 Current Incumbent – Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove)

Population – 706,645

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 52% 11% 12% 21%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 72% 27%  67%
New District 61% 37%  
Change -11% +10%  -6%

This district remains a split Bay Area/Sacramento County District. It stretches from Vallejo in the West to the Southern Sacramento suburbs. It dips into Contra Costa County to encompass the cities of Antioch and Oakley and parts of Pittsburg. It also takes in conservative Lodi in San Joaquin County.

Representative Garamendi should like this district, despite the drop in Democratic performance, since he is now a resident of the district.

Bay Area

All safe Democrats.

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CA 6 Current Incumbent – Woolsey (D-Petaluma)

Population – 706,661

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 75% 2% 4% 16%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 76% 22%  70%
New District 66% 24%  
Change -1% +2%  +5%

CA 6 stays fundamentally the same, only taking in the City of Napa and losing parts of Sonoma County.

CA 7 Current Incumbent – Miller (D-Martinez)

Population – 706,254

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 65% 6% 12% 14%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 72% 29%  67%
New District 66% 32%  
Change -4% +3% 1

This district now stays entirely in Contra Costa County.

CA 8 Current Incumbent – Pelosi (D-San Francisco)

Population – 707,082

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 46% 8% 30% 13%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 85% 12%  84%
New District 85% 13%  
Change 0% +1%  +1%

Slightly whiter than the current district

This is a minority-majority district.

CA 9 Current Incumbent – Lee (D-Oakland)

Population – 706,732

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 35% 25% 1% 17%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 88% 10%  86%
New District 89% 9%  
Change +1% -1% +3%

Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond.

This is a minority-majority district.

CA 11 Current Incumbent – McNerney (D-Pleasanton)

Population – 706,025

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 47% 10% 18% 20%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 54% 44%  45%
New District 70% 28%  
Change +16% -16% +25%

CA 11 stays in Alameda County and extends slightly north to Southeastern Contra Costa County. The district goes from a swing district to a safe Democratic seat. This does not have a detrimental affect on the Democratic lean in San Joaquin County.

This is a minority-majority district.

CA 12 Current Incumbent – Speier (D-Hillsborough)

Population – 706,600

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 45% 3% 27% 20%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 74% 24%  72%
New District 74% 24%  
Change 0% 0% +2%

Parts of San Francisco, Northern and Eastern San Mateo County.

This is a minority-majority district.

CA 13 Current Incumbent – Stark (D-Fremont)

Population – 706,283

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 44% 3% 27% 22%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 74% 24%  71%
New District 68% 31%  
Change -6% +6% -3%

This district now extends from Fremont in the North, circles around to the east and takes in part of South San Jose, and goes south to Gilroy.

Most of Stark's base is now part of McNerney's district (CA 11), but the change is necessary to shore up McNerney's seat. When Stark retires, a Democrat should easily pick up this seat.

This is a minority-majority district.

CA 14 Current Incumbent – Eshoo (D-Menlo Park)

Population – 706,637

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 55% 3% 23% 15%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 73% 25%  68%
New District 73% 25%  
Change 0% 0% +5%

CA 14 now stays out of Santa Cruz County, and extends east into the cities of Los Altos, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Cupertino, Saratoga, and Campbell.

CA 16 Current Incumbent – Honda (D-San Jose); Lofgren (D-San Jose)

Population – 706,632

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 30% 4% 28% 34%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 70% 30% 63%
New District 71% 28%  
Change +1% -2% +8%

It is difficult placing two Democrats in one seat, but with one of my goals to preserve City lines mostly intact, San Jose should be in one seat. However, packing Democrats in the Bay Area does not negatively affect seats elsewhere, and cracking the Bay Area leads to ugly looking districts throughout the state.

While preserving current incumbents can be valuable, the value of a map should be viewed as a whole, rather than any one particular district.

CA 17 Current Incumbent – Farr (D-Carmel)

Population – 706,776

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 55% 2% 6% 33%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 72% 26%  66%
New District 72% 26%  
Change 0% 0% +6%

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CA 17 encompasses Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties, and northern Monterey County (including the cities of Carmel and Monterey).

Central Valley

In the San Joaquin Valley, I create two 55% Obama districts, two 50% Obama districts and a solid Republican district. Assuming that a 55% district will elect a Democrat except in the largest Republican wave years, the worst that can happen in this area is exactly what is the current Congressional Delegation split (3 R – 2 D). In this case, the Republican districts will lean Democratic and only grow stronger because of the demographic changes in the area.

CA 15 Current Incumbent – none

Population – 706,846

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 47% 7% 11% 31%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District  
New District 55% 43%  
Change  

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CA 15 is a new district based in Stockton and rural Stanislaus County. In many respects, the district will reflect the political nature of the entire state, and with a growing Hispanic population, should grow more Democratic as the decade goes on.

This is a minority-majority district.

CA 18 Current Incumbent – Cardoza (D-Atwater)

Population – 706,832

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 48% 3% 6% 38%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 59% 39%  49%
New District 52% 46%  
Change -7% +7% +3%

Representative Cardoza will face challenges in this swing district. Personally, he was elected in 2002 with only 51% of the vote, so he should be able to remember how to run a competitive election (he was unopposed in 2008).

The district runs from Modesto to Merced, and extends a bit south to Democratic precincts in east Madera (bypassing Chowchilla). The district is rapidly growing, and the demographics should continue to favor Democrats by the end of the decade.

This is a minority-majority district.

CA 19 Current Incumbent – Radanovich (R-Madera) or new member

Population – 706,439

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 65% 2% 3% 26%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 46% 52%  38%
New District 39% 59%  
Change -7% +7% +1%

CA 19 is a very safe Republican district bordering Nevada, from Amador County to Tulare County in the South. The district splits the city of Madera in Madera County with CA 18. In Fresno County, conservative-leaning Clovis is in CA 19.

CA 20 Current Incumbent – Costa (D-Fresno)

Population – 700,226

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 34% 6% 9% 46%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 60% 39%  51%
New District 56% 42%  
Change -5% +4%  +4%

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This Fresno-based district now stays entirely in Fresno County. Obama’s performance drops slightly to preserve compactness.

This is a minority-majority district. I expect it will soon be a majority-Hispanic district.

CA 21 Current Incumbent – Nunes (R-Tulare)

Population – 706,283

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 31% 6% 4% 55%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 42% 56%  34%
New District 50% 48%  
Change +8% -8%  +16%

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King County, Portions of Tulare and Kern Counties. Democratic-leaning precincts in East Bakersfield are also in this district.

The current district goes north from Tulare County into Fresno County. Although I considered drawing Rep. Nunes out of this district, his residence in Tulare is among the most Democratic part of this district. A Democrat may have a hard time unseating Representative Nunes, but the demographic nature of the district will make it a swing seat in normal election years.

This is a majority-Hispanic district.

CA 22 Current Incumbent – McCarthy (R-Bakersfield)

Population – 706,992

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 64% 4% 3% 26%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 38% 60%  31%
New District 38% 60%  
Change 0% 0% +7%

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CA 22 remains centrally located in Kern County; it does lose precincts in Bakersfield, and all of San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles Counties. It gains Republican areas in Santa Barbara County and Ventura County, including the cities of Camarillo and most of Moorpark.

CA 23 Current Incumbent – Capps (D-Santa Barbara)

Population – 706,162

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 62% 2% 4% 29%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 66% 32% 58%
New District 58% 40%  
Change -8% +8%  0

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Much of the Republican gain in this district come from the addition of all of San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties, where the eastern portions of those counties are not as Democratic as the cities and precincts along the Pacific Ocean.

The district continues to be a strong Democratic district.

CA 24 Current Incumbent – Gallegly (R-Simi Valley); McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks)

Population – 707,144

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 55% 2% 5% 34%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 51% 48% 43%
New District 57% 41%  
Change +6% -7% +14%

The fruits of these changes in the Central California Coast is changing a swing (lean Republican) district into a solid Democratic district. I do not think that Elton Gallegly would survive in this district, after losing the conservative portions of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties to CA 22.

Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County has 14 whole Congressional Districts and only has one district split between it and Orange and Riverside Counties. All 14 CD's are Democratic leaning.

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CA 25 Current Incumbent – Dreier (R-San Dimas)

Population – 706,354

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 46% 11% 6% 33%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 49% 48% 40%
New District 56% 42%  
Change +7% -6% 16%

The statistics for this district, which is entirely in Los Angeles County are for CA 25, but Representative Dreier (CA 26) resides in the district. The district includes Lancaster and Palmdale in the North, and Pomona in the Southeast.

A Democrat should be able to win this district, especially since most of the district would be new territory for Representative Dreier.

This is a minority-majority district.

CA 27 Current Incumbent – Schiff (D-Burbank)

Population – 706,392

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 32% 4% 9% 51%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 66% 32%  59%
New District 67% 31%  
Change +1% -1% +8%

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CA 27 is a Los Angeles – Burbank district. My guess is that the district includes Northridge, Panorama City, San Fernando, and Mission Hills, among others.

 

The district is a majority-Hispanic district.

CA 28 Current Incumbent – Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), Berman (D-Valley Village)

Population – 706,769

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 30% 4% 10% 51%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 76% 22%  71%
New District 75% 23%  
Change -1% +1% +4%

CA 28 stretches across Nothern Los Angeles, from (what I would say) Resenda to Van Nuys, to North Hollywood through Griffith Park to Atwater Village.

The current districts were drawn to ensure that both incumbents resided in different districts. Short of carving out a few precincts to draw Rep. Berman into the 27th, as both Representatives live around 4 miles from each other, I kept the districts more or less compact.

This is a majority-Hispanic district.

CA 29 Current Incumbent – none

Population – 706,337

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 38% 5% 17% 35%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 68% 31% 61%
New District 64% 34%  
Change -4% +3% +3%

CA 29 retains the core of the old district, Glendale and Pasadena, but loses Burbank and Alhambra, gaining more northern and eastern suburbs, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, and Aduza.

While Representative Schiff now resides in CA 27, the district should remain a solid Democratic seat.

This is a majority-minority district.

CA 30 Current Incumbent – Waxman (D-Beverly Hills)

Population – 706,711

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 74% 3% 8% 11%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 70% 28%  66%
New District 63% 36%  
Change -7% +8%  -3%

Waxman's district hugs the Los Angeles – Ventura County line, from Kern County through Santa Clarita to Malibu, and then extends eastward through Los Angeles to Beverly Hills.

CA 32 Current Incumbent – Miller (R-Diamond Bar)

Population – 705,921

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 23% 3% 21% 50%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 68% 30%  62%
New District 61% 37%  
Change -7% +7% -1

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This district swings easterly. In the North, the district includes Glendora and Covina, in the west: Irwingdale, Baldwin Park and El Monte, and in the south and east: La Habra Heights, Walnut and Diamond Bar.

Representative Chu's residence is now in CA 38, but a Democrat should easily win this district.

This is a majority-Hispanic district.

CA 33 Current Incumbent – Watson (D-Los Angeles)

Population – 706,250

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 25% 5% 16% 51%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 87% 12%  83%
New District 79% 19%  
Change -8% +7% -4%

CA 33 wraps around West Hollywood.

This is a majority-Hispanic district.

CA 34 Current Incumbent – Becerra (D-Los Angeles); Roybal-Allard (D-Los Angeles)

Population – 706,977

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 5% 7% 5% 81%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 80% 18%  77%
New District 85% 13%  
Change +5% -5% +8

This district includes East Los Angeles, Vernon, Maywood, Huntington Park and portions of Los Angeles County.

This is a majority-Hispanic district.

CA 35 Current Incumbent – Waters (D-Los Angeles)

Population – 706,135

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 2% 50% 2% 43%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 84% 14%  79%
New District 94% 5%  
Change +10% -9% +15%

This is a South Los Angeles, Inglewood, Compton district.

This is a majority-minority district.

CA 36 Current Incumbent – Harman (D-Venice)

Population – 706,943

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 45% 11% 12% 28%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 64% 34%  59%
New District 77% 21%  
Change +13% -13% +18%

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CA 36 extends from Santa Monica to Hawthorne, and has an arm through central Los Angeles. The district becomes much stronger Democratic, as it stays more compact and northerly. A challenger to Representative Harman should find much easier terrain.

This is a minority-majority district.

CA 37 Current Incumbent – Richardson (D-Long Beach)

Population – 706,336

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 8% 19% 10% 60%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 80% 19%  74%
New District 80% 19%  
Change 0% 0% +6%

CA 37 is a donut shaped district around the City of Compton. It includes the cities of Gardena, Carson, northern Long Beach, Paramount, Lynwood, and South Gate. I am not sure if Representative Richardson would actually lives in this district.

This is a majority-Hispanic district.

CA 38 Current Incumbent – Napolitano (D-Norwalk), Linda Sanchez (D-Lakewood)

Population – 707,067

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 35% 7% 14% 41%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 66% 32%  59%
New District 63% 35%  
Change -3% +3% +4%

* Old District CA 39

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Someone who is reading to this point may think, wait a second, why are there so many Democratic primaries in this map. I want to remind the readers that the current map is a Republican gerrymander, and second, I am more concerned with the entire state delegation rather than one individual. In this particular district, Representatives Napolitano and Sanchez reside in nearly adjacent cities. From pieces from the current CA 36, CA 37, and CA 46, we can create a Democratic performing district from Manhattan Beach to Long Beach. We could then carve up northern Orange County and create two marginal Democratic performing seats – one for Rep. Napolitano and one for Rep. Sanchez. I prefer the stronger seat and one seat that has the potential to become more Democratic performing.

This district extends from Long Beach to Sante Fe Springs along the Los Angeles County border.

This is a minority-majority district.

CA 39 Current Incumbent – none

Population – 706,502

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 18% 2% 24% 54%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 54% 44%  
New District 65% 33%  
Change 0% +2%  

This district stretches from South Pasadena and San Marnio to Whittier and Downey. The district includes parts of the current CA 38, CA 32, and CA 34.

This is a majority-Hispanic district.

CA 46 Current Incumbent – none

Population – 706,184

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 41% 7% 15% 33%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District -% -%  
New District 60% 38%  
Change -% -%  

This district is the payoff in reversing the Republican gerrymander. In this district, located from Torrence to Long Beach along the Pacific, a Democrat should win comfortably in most election cycles.

This is a minority-majority district.

Orange County

Orange County is currently split into 6 districts, and a Republican holds 5 of them. However, Obama won 3 of those districts in 2008. In this map, I create two safe Democratic seats, and only split Orange County five ways – with only one district extending out of the County.

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CA 31 Current Incumbent – Calvert (R-Corona)

Population – 707,092

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 58% 3% 7% 28%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 50% 49% 40%
New District 44% 54%  
Change -6% +5% +4%

*old stats are for the current CA 44.

Representative Calvert's district becomes a safe Republican district that extends into Los Angeles County to take in the City of La Mirada, the Orange County cities of Brea and Yorba Linda, and the western edge of Riverside County, including Corona, Murietta and Norco.

CA 40 Current Incumbent – Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove), Royce (R-Fullerton)

Population – 706,539

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 28% 3% 14% 53%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 60% 38% 49%
New District 55% 43%  
Change -5% +5% +6%

*old district stats for CA 47

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This district combines Fullerton, most of Anaheim, and portions of Santa Ana and Garden Grove to create a competitive, but strongly leaning Democratic district in the north-central part of Orange County.

This is a majority-Hispanic district.

CA 42 Current Incumbent – none

Population – 706,001

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 74% 1% 8% 14%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 45% 53% 37%
New District 43% 55%  
Change -2% +2% +6%

This district includes the eastern portion of Anaheim, and Orange, extends South to include the suothern cities of Orange County, and extends north along the Pacific Ocean to include Laguna Beach and portions of Newport Beach. A Republican is very safe here.

CA 47 Current Incumbent – Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach)

Population – 706,996

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 56% 1% 21% 18%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 48% 50%  42%
New District 45% 53%  
Change -3% +3% +3%

*old district stats for CA 46

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This district is an entirely Orange County district, encompassing the cities of Cypress, Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, and most of Garden Grove and Newport Beach.

This district should remain a safe Republican seat.

CA 48 Current Incumbent – Campbell (R-Irvine)

Population – 706,454

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 45% 2% 14% 36%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 49% 49% 40%
New District 56% 42%  
Change +7% -7% +16%

Creating a second Democratic leaning district in Orange County was not too difficult. I combine the cities of Irvine, Tustin, Costa Mesa and Laguna Woods, and portions of Orange and Santa Ana.

This is a majority-minority district.

Remainder of Southern California – San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial Counties

Currently only three Democrats represent parts of any of these Southern California counties. In my map, Democrats should represent at least 5 districts, Obama won two more districts, and Republicans should only have two safe seats.

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CA 26 Current Incumbent – none

Population – 706,612

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 39% 7% 7% 43%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 51% 47% 44%
New District 53% 45%  
Change +2% -2% +9%

CA 26 is now located in San Bernardino and northern Riverside County. It includes the cities of Chino, Chino Hills, Ontario, and Rancho Cucamunga. This is a toss-up district, but should lean Democratic most years and the demographics favor the district becoming more strongly Democratic.

This is a minority-majority district.

CA 41 Current Incumbent – Lewis (R-Redlands)

Population – 706,905

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 63% 6% 3% 23%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 44% 54% 37%
New District 42% 55%  
Change -2% +1% +5%

This district is located entirely in San Bernardino County. It includes Representative Lewis' residence in Redlands, and the cities of Yucaipa, Victorville and Hesperia.

This is a safe Republican district.

CA 43 Current Incumbent – Baca (D-Rialto)

Population – 706,526

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 27% 14% 4% 51%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 68% 30% 58%
New District 66% 32%  
Change -2% +2% +8%

This district remains a safe Democratic district and a majority-Hispanic district. It includes the cities of San Bernardino, Fontana, Colton and Rialto.

This is a majority Hispanic district.

CA 44 Current Incumbent – none

Population – 706,679

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 43% 10% 6% 37%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 50% 49% 40%
New District 56% 42%  
Change +6% -7% +16%

This is now a solid Democratic district in northern Riverside County. The district includes Riverside, Moreno Valley, Banning, and Beaumont.

This is a minority-majoirty district.

CA 45 Current Incumbent – Bono Mack (R-Palm Springs)

Population – 707,189

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 51% 4% 2% 40%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 52% 47% 43%
New District 53% 46%  
Change 0% -1% +9%

The percentages stay the same in CA 45, but the district becomes more urban. Palm Springs, Indio, and Coachella in the east are united with Lake Elsinore, Perris, and Hemet in the west.

I am not quite sure what percentage of the district is new, and I would expect that Representative Bono Mack could eke out a few more terms, but the demographics of the district are on our side, and a Democrat would likely to be favored in an open-seat election.

CA 49 Current Incumbent – Issa (R-Lakeside)

Population – 706,383

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 70% 2% 4% 21%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 45% 53% 38%
New District 39% 59%  
Change -6% +6% +1%

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This district starts in the north along the southern border of Hemet, takes in Temecula and skirts along the city of San Diego eastern border, encompassing Escondido, Poway and Santee.

This is a very safe Republican seat.

CA 50 Current Incumbent – Bilbray (R-Calisbad) Hunter (R-Vista)

Population – 707,238

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 63% 3% 7% 23%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 51% 47% 44%
New District 54% 44%  
Change +3% -2% +10%

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Two Republican incumbents in a district where Obama won with over 54%. Ah, fun with redistricting.

The district lies entirely in San Diego County along the Pacific Ocean, Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad, San Marcos, and comes into the City of San Diego.

CA 51 Current Incumbent – Filner (D-Chula Vista)

Population – 707,057

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 28% 4% 9% 56%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 63% 36% 53%
New District 58% 40%  
Change -5% +4% +5%

This is a large district from Chula Vista and the border with Mexico to the border with Arizona and to the border of Riverside and San Bernadino County. This remains a safe Democratic seat.

This is a majority-Hispanic district.

CA 52 Current Incumbent – none

Population – 706,873

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 60% 5% 13% 17%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 45% 54% 38%
New District 56% 43%  
Change +11% -11% +18%

This is a Democratic district from North and East San Diego extending to El Cajon. 

CA 53 Current Incumbent – Davis (D-San Diego)

Population – 706,571

White Black Asian Hispanic
Race 46% 11% 10% 29%
Obama McCain Kerry
Old District 69% 30% 61%
New District 64% 34%  
Change -5% +4% +3%

This Democratic district includes portions of San Diego, Coronado, La Mesa, and Lemon Grove.

This is a majority-minority district.

By what margin will Bob Shamansky win?

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GERRYMANDERING (movie) – World Premiere Tribeca FF

Greetings all –

I’m the writer/director of a new feature-length documentary about redistricting, a subject which I know is near and dear to many hearts here.  It’s called, aptly, GERRYMANDERING.  I’ve been working it now for about five years and the film will have its world premiere two weeks from today in the Discovery section of New York’s Tribeca Film Festival.

In the course of making the film, I got in touch with DavidNYC who provided terrific advice here and there.  When I let him know about the premiere he suggested I diary about it, so here goes…

GERRYMANDERING World Premiere!

Tribeca Film Festival 2010

Tuesday, April 27, 6:00 pm, Village East Cinema (181 Second Avenue at 12th Street)

Tickets are available now for Amex cardholders: http://www.tribecafilm.com/fes…

General tickets go on sale 4/19.  

If you can’t make the premiere, we’ll screen three more times:

Wednesday, April 28, 5:30 pm, Village East

Friday, April 30, 7:00 pm, Clearview Chelsea  (260 West 23rd Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues)

Saturday, May 1, 10:00 pm, Clearview Chelsea

Here’s the Tribeca FF description:

What is “gerrymandering”? You don’t have to wait for your oversized 2010 census envelope to figure out what exactly it means. Named for the Massachusetts governor who conveniently redrew a few erratic lines in 1812, gerrymandering is the redistricting of electoral boundaries to effect voting outcome in favor of a particular candidate, political party, et cetera. And why should you care? As the governor of California will tell you, the reestablishment of district lines takes away the voice of individual communities, reduces voter turnout and lessens competition among candidates. Whether it’s a community, race, or party issue, an issue it surely is.

Director Jeff Reichert gathers an impressive bevy of experts to smartly present a well-rounded exposé. From California’s struggle to pass Prop 11 to The Daily Show’s mockery of a gaggle of border-jumping Texas politicians, this accessible and informative documentary encourages us to put on our bifocals and more closely inspect the warp and woof of America’s democratic system.

–Ashley Havey

Residents of California, Florida, Texas, Iowa, DC, New York, Massachusetts, Louisiana or Oklahoma will recognize a lot of our shooting locations.  (Hopefully we’ll be able to get the film to the rest of the country soon).

For more info (and a quick, somewhat old teaser trailer) check out our website: www.gerrymanderingmovie.com

And if you have specific questions about the film, I can try to answer them in the comments…

By what margin will Bob Shamansky win?

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Redrawing California: More Democratic and Hispanic Representatives

(I have cross-posted this diary on Calitics)

This is my first attempt at California since the partisan data by precinct became available in Dave’s Application.  

My diaries are often long, and it takes me a while to get to the point.  So, I will summarize the bottom line here:

* 43 solidly Democratic districts created; in each McCain gets 37% of vote or less (currently there are 34 Democratic representatives from California, and 1 of the 34 holds a swingy seat)

* Remaining 10 districts to GOP, with possibility that 2 of the 10 go our way at some point in the next decade

* 19 Hispanic majority districts created; 18 of the 19 are at least 55% Hispanic, so that a Hispanic representative has a real chance of being elected (currently, there are only 8 Hispanic representatives from California).   An additional 13 seats are minority-majority (with either an Asian or African-American plurality or no particular racial/ethnic minority dominant).

Now, back to the more lengthy explanation …

I wanted to create as many minority-majority or minority-plurality districts as possible.  Although in most states an increase in the number of minority-majority districts would have an inverse relationship with an increase in the number of Democratic districts, in California that relationship appears complimentary: an increase in Democratic districts goes hand-in-hand with an increase in Hispanic and other minority-majority or minority-plurality districts.

There’s one issue here that is a bit tricky.  The dataset with the Obama/McCain partisan numbers also uses 2000 census demographics.  Under the 2000 census, California was 47% white and 32% Hispanic.  However, more recent data, from the 2006-2008 American Community Survey indicates that the state was approximately 42% white and 37% Hispanic.  The ACS data does not go down to the census block level, and therefore Dave’s Application relied on Census 2000 data, to the block level, to generate racial/ethnic composition data for each precinct for the partisan data model.  On the other hand, the original dataset without partisan numbers does appear to use the more recent numbers — down to the county level (I am not sure if the ACS 2006-2008 data was used, but the resulting percentages correspond almost exactly to what the ACS numbers look like — 42% white; 37% Hispanic).

Therefore, for the purpose of this diary, I will list the demographic data for each district using the exact (yet older) demographic data, but will also provide estimated numbers using the newer (though more geographically inexact) data.  I was able to do this by “redrawing” my map from the partisan model into the original matrix without the partisan data.  So, please keep in mind that the 2006-2008 demographic numbers are just estimates, though they are closer to the current demographic situation than the 2000 data.  

To make sure that a Hispanic-majority district has enough of a minority population to provide an opportunity to elect a minority-representative, I set a benchmark for myself of at least 55% Hispanic (under the more recent estimated data) AND the Hispanic population should be at least 2 times as large as the next largest ethnic/racial group (so a district that is 55% Hispanic and 27% white would work, but 55% Hispanic and 30% white would not work).   All my Hispanic-majority districts fit the criteria except for two which are both 55% Hispanic and 28% white and one that is 50+% Hispanic and 25% white.

There are currently only eight Hispanic representatives from California.  Under this plan, that number is likely to be at least doubled.  10 new Hispanic-majority districts are created.  In addition, two other districts have enough of a Hispanic population to elect a Hispanic representative at some point in the near future.  The plan also creates three new Asian-plurality districts, three minority-majority districts (with no particular minority group that’s dominant) and strengthens CA-35 as an African-American-plurality district.

Another goal I had in mind when drawing this plan, was to keep as many counties intact as possible.  The current (2002) plan has a total of 120 “county-fragments” in the plan.  For example, the current CA-1 has 7 fragments: the whole counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, and Napa (that’s 5), as well as parts of Sonoma and Yolo (2 more).  Under the proposed plan here, I have 121 “county-fragments” (and that includes one tiny sliver of Sacramento Co. that’s in my CA-4, and is therefore a “fragment” only because I tried to use a small population deviation (+/- 500 persons) for each of my districts.)  Therefore, my plan is technically not any more gerrymandered than the existing plan if looking at gerrymandering through the prism of how counties are split among districts.

Last, but not least … the partisan numbers for my map …

The current map of California is, for all practical purposes, a Republican gerrymander.  It was designed in 2002 as a “bipartisan compromise” between the two parties (even though Democrats were in charge), but today the faulty map is the only thing keeping so many Republican Congressmen in office from a state that is as Democratic as California.  To demonstrate — in 2008, 31 out of 34 Democratic Representatives won by at least 68% of the vote, while 13 out of 19 Republicans won with a winning percentage of 58% or less (including four GOPers who won with 51% or less).

One of the arguments the Democrats who designed the current map made was that it was “impossible” to create any additional Democratic seats without endangering the Democratic seats that were created.  This argument is basically bs.  As you can see from this proposal and the map below, the CA-45 that I create is made up entirely out of territory currently in GOP districts.  

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The proposed CA-45 encompasses parts of the current CA-45, CA-44, CA-41 and CA-49, and the resulting district is 65 Obama – 34 McCain.  The district is also quite compact and confined entirely to one county – Riverside.  Thus, it was very possible to create at least one more Democratic seat in 2002, since the creation of such a district would have had no effect on any Democratic seats that were created, as all the territory comes only out of GOP areas.  (Btw, if you are a little more creative with the lines, a district entirely within Riverside Co. that takes territory only out of currently GOP-held districts can be created that is 68 Obama – 30 McCain.  The theoretical district would extend a bit more into the city of Riverside, and lose territory elsewhere; however, in my proposed map here I wanted to put most of those Democratic Riverside areas into a new CA-48 that is also designed to be a new Democratic district.)

Another example of how California Democrats could have drawn a better map in 2002 is below.  The Democrats could have created a district in San Diego Co. that is 55 Obama – 44 McCain using only territory that comes out of the current CA-50, CA-52 and CA-49, all Republican districts.  What’s more, is that the theoretical district would arguably do a better job of keeping communities together, as the northern third of the city of San Diego would now be in only one district instead of being split between CA-50 and CA-52, and much of the northern and eastern boundaries of the district would correspond almost exactly to the northern and eastern boundaries of the city.

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Although the theoretical district would be politically competitive, and not as much of a slam-dunk Democratic district as the proposed CA-45 above, it would have likely been Democratic-held today (with all other things being equal) since it would be approximately 7 points more Democratic than the current CA-50 (Francine Busby lost the special 2006 election by only 4 points and Nick Liebham lost his 2008 race by 5 points).  (Btw, in this proposed plan I decided to draw somewhat different lines in San Diego Co. and came up with three San Diego-based districts that are all 62 Obama – 37 McCain).

The examples above are not the only ones, but are just an illustration of the existing plan’s gutlessness.  The Democrats in 2002 apparently spent millions to create such a plan; it’s really a travesty that it wound up being a gerrymander that over-represents GOP strength in the state.

The proposed plan in this diary creates 10 new solidly Democratic districts.  All existing and new Democratic seats now become ones where McCain had at most 37% of the vote in 2008.  I feel that is enough of a cushion (basically 24-25 points Obama over McCain) to ensure Democratic representation.  Btw, the numbers for California as a whole were almost exactly 62% Obama; 37% McCain. (I’m classifying McNerney’s seat as currently “Republican” since it was designed that way in 2002, and could still go GOP depending on the political climate, currently being only a 54% Obama district).  I also tried to keep the geographic/political base of each Democratic incumbent intact while designing this plan.

If this plan was implemented, Democrats would be basically assured of 43 House of Representatives seats from California, with the possibility of picking up another two at some point over the next decade.  Of course, all now depends on whether Jerry Brown can win in November, and even if he wins — how bold are California Democrats willing to be.

For those arguing that Republicans should somehow have more than 10 seats from California, I reference you to three points:  1). the current plan is tilted towards the GOP and is not representative of the partisan nature of California; likewise, there are not enough Hispanic and other minority-majority districts in the state, and in order to create a map that better represents minority populations, more Democratic districts need to be created;  2). until both parties stop using gerrymandering as a political tool, there is no reason why Democrats should disarm unilaterally; and  3.) look at the recent health care debate and see just how EVERY little seat mattered !  With nine or ten more California Democrats in the House helping Pelosi, the process would have likely gone a whole lot smoother, and we would have never been even close to that precipice of defeat …

Anyhow, here’s the plan:

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District 1:

Incumbent: Mike Thompson (D)

Current District:  Obama 66; McCain 32

Proposed District:  Obama 64; McCain 34

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 73 white ; 2 black ; 1 native american ; 3 asian ; 18 hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 67 white ; 2 black ; 1 native american ; 4 asian ; 23 hispanic ; 2 other

Includes all of Napa, Lake, Colusa and Glenn Counties, part of Sonoma Co. – Santa Rosa, Sonoma, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Sebastopol, and part of Butte Co. – Chico, Oroville, Paradise

District 2:  

Incumbent: Wally Herger (R)

Current District:  Obama 43; McCain 55

Proposed District:  Obama 41; McCain 57

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 78 white ; 2 black ; 2 native american ; 4 asian ; 11 hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 74 white ; 2 black ; 2 native american ; 4 asian ; 15 hispanic ; 3 other

Includes all of Siskiyou, Modoc, Shasta, Tehama, Lassen, Plumas, Sierra, Nevada, Yuba and Sutter Counties, part of Sacramento Co. and part of Butte Co. – Gridley, Biggs

District 3:  

Incumbent: Dan Lungren (R)

Current District:  Obama 49; McCain 49

Proposed District:  Obama 63; McCain 35

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 52 white ; 9 black ; 1 native american ; 13 asian ; 20 hispanic ; 4 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 46 white ; 10 black ; 1 native american ; 16 asian ; 24 hispanic ; 4 other

New minority-majority district

New Democratic district

Includes all of Yolo Co., and part of Sacramento Co. – Citrus Heights and part of city of Sacramento

District 4:  

Incumbent: Tom McClintock (R)

Current District:  Obama 44; McCain 54

Proposed District:  Obama 43; McCain 55

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 83 white ; 1 black ; 1 native american ; 3 asian ; 10 hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 79 white ; 2 black ; 1 native american ; 4 asian ; 11 hispanic ; 2 other

Includes all of Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa Counties, and small sliver of Sacramento Co.

District 5:  

Incumbent: Doris Matsui (D)

Current District:  Obama 70; McCain 28

Proposed District:  Obama 63; McCain 35

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 60 white ; 9 black ; 1 native american ; 11 asian ; 15 hispanic ; 4 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 53 white ; 10 black ; 1 native american ; 13 asian ; 20 hispanic ; 4 other

Includes part of Sacramento Co. – incl. most of the city of Sacramento

District 6:

Incumbent: Lynn Woolsey (D)

Current District:  Obama 76; McCain 22

Proposed District:  Obama 72; McCain 26

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 78 white ; 2 black ; 2 native american ; 3 asian ; 12 hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 74 white ; 2 black ; 2 native american ; 4 asian ; 16 hispanic ; 3 other

Includes all of Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, Mendocino and Marin Counties, and part of Sonoma Co. – Petaluma, Windsor, Healdsburg, Cloverdale

District 7:  

Incumbent: George Miller (D)

Current District:  Obama 72; McCain 27

Proposed District:  Obama 66; McCain 33

2000 Demographics: 53 white ; 11 black ; 1 native american ; 12 asian ; 19 hispanic ; 5 other

Estimated 2006-2008 Demographics: 47 white ; 11 black ; 1 native american ; 13 asian ; 25 hispanic ; 4 other

Includes all of Solano Co. and part of Contra Costa Co. – Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Concord, Clayton, Pittsburg

District 8:  

Incumbent: Nancy Pelosi (D)

Current District:  Obama 85; McCain 12

Proposed District:  Obama 85; McCain 13

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 42 white ; 9 black ; 0 native american ; 31 asian ; 15 hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 45 white ; 7 black ; 0 native american ; 31 asian ; 15 hispanic ; 2 other

Includes most of San Francisco (district expands into Sunset District to maintain equal population)

District 9:  

Incumbent: Barbara Lee (D)

Current District:  Obama 88; McCain 10

Proposed District:  Obama 74; McCain 25

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 54 white ; 17 black ; 0 native american ; 12 asian ; 14 hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 48 white ; 16 black ; 0 native american ; 15 asian ; 18 hispanic ; 3 other

Includes part of Alameda Co. – Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville, Dublin, Livermore and part of Oakland, and part of Contra Costa Co. – Moraga, Orinda, Danville, San Ramon, Oakley

District 10:  

Incumbent: John Garamendi (D)

Current District:  Obama 65; McCain 33

Proposed District:  Obama 65; McCain 33

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 57 white ; 11 black ; 1 native american ; 11 asian ; 17 hispanic ; 4 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 49 white ; 11 black ; 0 native american ; 13 asian ; 23 hispanic ; 3 other

New minority-majority district

Includes part of Contra Costa Co. – Richmond, San Pablo, El Cerrito, Hercules, Pinole, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Antioch, Brentwood, and part of Sacramento Co. – Isleton, Galt, Folsom

District 11:  

Incumbent: Jerry McNerney (D)

Current District:  Obama 54; McCain 44

Proposed District:  Obama 66; McCain 33

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 54 white ; 9 black ; 1 native american ; 12 asian ; 20 hispanic ; 4 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 49 white ; 8 black ; 0 native american ; 15 asian ; 24 hispanic ; 3 other

New minority-majority district

New Democratic district
– that may sound strange, but this district was designed in 2002 as a GOP seat.  It has moved towards the Democrats since then, but there’s a reasonable chance the incumbent Democrat could be defeated under the current lines at some point in the future.  The proposed plan significantly increases the Democratic percentage here.

Includes part of Alameda Co. – Piedmont, Pleasanton and part of Oakland, and part of San Joaquin Co. – Tracy, Manteca, Ripon, Escalon, Lodi and part of Stockton

District 12:  

Incumbent: Jackie Speier (D)

Current District:  Obama 74; McCain 24

Proposed District:  Obama 74; McCain 24

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 50 white ; 3 black ; 0 native american ; 26 asian ; 16 hispanic ; 4 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 48 white ; 2 black ; 0 native american ; 30 asian ; 17 hispanic ; 3 other

Includes part of San Francisco and part of San Mateo Co. – Daly City, Brisbane, South San Francisco, Colma, San Bruno, Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, Millbrae, Burlingame, Hillsborough, Foster City, San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Woodside and part of Redwood City

District 13:

Incumbent: Pete Stark (D)

Current District:  Obama 74; McCain 24

Proposed District:  Obama 75; McCain 23

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 36 white ; 8 black ; 1 native american ; 28 asian ; 22 hispanic ; 5 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 32 white ; 7 black ; 0 native american ; 33 asian ; 25 hispanic ; 3 other

New Asian-plurality district

Includes part of Alameda Co. – Fremont, Newark, Union City, Hayward, San Leandro, Alameda, and part of Oakland

District 14:  

Incumbent: Anna Eshoo (D)

Current District:  Obama 73; McCain 25

Proposed District:  Obama 63; McCain 35

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 59 white ; 3 black ; 1 native american ; 9 asian ; 24 hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 54 white ; 3 black ; 0 native american ; 11 asian ; 30 hispanic ; 2 other

Includes part of San Mateo Co. – Menlo Park, Atherton, East Palo Alto, Portola Valley and part of Redwood City, part of Santa Clara Co. – Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Monte Sereno, part of Merced Co. – Los Banos, Gustine, and part of Stanislaus Co. – Turlock, Hughson, Waterford, Oakdale, Riverbank and part of Modesto (A bit over 50% of the new district is in Silicon Valley, while the remainder is in the Central Valley.)

District 15:  

Incumbent: Mike Honda (D)

Current District:  Obama 68; McCain 30

Proposed District:  Obama 69; McCain 29

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 44 white ; 2 black ; 0 native american ; 35 asian; 15 hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 38 white ; 2 black ; 0 native american ; 42 asian ; 16 hispanic ; 2 other

New Asian-plurality district

Includes part of Santa Clara Co. – Milpitas, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Saratoga and part of San Jose

District 16:

Incumbent: Zoe Lofgren (D)

Current District:  Obama 70; McCain 29

Proposed District:  Obama 68; McCain 31

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 45 white ; 3 black ; 1 native american ; 20 asian ; 27 hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 39 white ; 3 black ; 0 native american ; 25 asian ; 30 hispanic ; 2  other

Includes part of Santa Clara Co. – Campbell, Los Gatos, Morgan Hill, Gilroy and part of San Jose

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District 17:

Incumbent: Sam Farr (D)

Current District:  Obama 72; McCain 26

Proposed District:  Obama 63; McCain 35

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 67 white ; 2 black ; 1 native american ; 4 asian ; 22 hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 63 white ; 2 black ; 1 native american ; 5 asian ; 27 hispanic ; 2 other

Includes all of Santa Cruz Co., part of Monterey Co. – Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove, Del Rey Oaks, Sand City, Seaside, Marina, part of San Luis Obispo Co. – Paso Robles, Atascadero, Arroyo Grande, and part of Santa Barbara Co. – Lompoc, Buelton, Solvang

District 18:  

Incumbent: Dennis Cardoza (D)

Current District:  Obama 59; McCain 39

Proposed District:  Obama 61; McCain 37

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 34 white ; 4 black ; 1 native american ; 7 asian ; 50+ hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 29 white ; 4 black ; 1 native american ; 7 asian ; 59 hispanic ; 2

other

New Hispanic-majority district

Includes all of San Benito Co., part of Monterey Co. – Salinas, Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield, King City, part of Merced Co. – Merced, Atwater, Livingston, Dos Palos, and part of Fresno Co. – Firebaugh, Mendota, San Joaquin, Coalinga, Huron, Kerman and part of city of Fresno

District 19:  

Incumbent: George Radanovich (R) (retiring)

Current District:  Obama 46; McCain 52

Proposed District:  Obama 45; McCain 53

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 40 white ; 2 black ; 1 native american ; 4 asian ; 50+ hispanic ; 2 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 35 white ; 2 black ; 1 native american ; 4 asian ; 56 hispanic ; 1 other

New Hispanic-majority district



Includes part of Madera Co. – Madera, Chowchilla, part of Fresno Co. – Sanger, Reedley, Orange Cove, Kingsburg, part of Clovis and part of the city of Fresno, and part of Tulare Co. – Tulare, Porterville, Lindsay, Farmersville, Woodlake, Dinuba

The territory contained in the proposed district is already over 50% Hispanic even under the 2000 Census numbers; it is estimated to be at least 56% Hispanic today.  The problem for Democrats is that a large proportion of the Hispanic population is undocumented and/or unregistered (also there’s a sizeable historical Portuguese population here which “skews” the Hispanic numbers).  Nevertheless, with demographic change over the next decade, this district can quickly turn our way despite the current GOP status (like CA-47 did in the 1990’s; remember Loretta Sanchez v. Bob Dornan)

District 20:  

Incumbent: Jim Costa (D)

Current District:  Obama 60; McCain 39

Proposed District:  Obama 61; McCain 37

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 22 white ; 8 black ; 2 native american ; 7 asian ; 59 hispanic ; 2 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 20 white ; 8 black ; 1 native american ; 6 asian ; 64 hispanic ; 1 other

Includes all of Kings Co.,  part of Fresno Co. – Fowler, Selma, Parlier and part of city of Fresno, and part of Kern Co. – Delano, McFarland, Wasco, Arvin and part of Bakersfield

District 21:  

Incumbent: Devin Nunes (R)*

Current District:  Obama 42; McCain 56

Proposed District:  Obama 66; McCain 33

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 31 white ; 6 black ; 1 native american ; 14 asian ; 45 hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 25 white ; 6 black ; 1 native american ; 16 asian ; 50+ hispanic ; 2 other

* District is completely “relocated” to another part of the Central Valley.  Most of Nunes’ current district is split between the new CA-19 and the new CA-22.

New Hispanic-majority district

New Democratic district

Includes part of Santa Clara Co. – part of San Jose, part of Stanislaus Co. – Newman, Patterson, Ceres and part of Modesto, and part of San Joaquin Co. – Lathrop and most of Stockton

District 22:  

Incumbent: Kevin McCarthy (R)

Current District:  Obama 38; McCain 60

Proposed District:  Obama 34; McCain 64

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 70 white ; 3 black ; 1 native american ; 4 asian ; 19 hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 65 white ; 3 black ; 1 native american ; 4 asian ; 24 hispanic ; 2 other

Includes part of Madera Co., part of Fresno Co. – part of Clovis, part of Tulare Co. – Exeter, Visalia, and part of Kern Co. – Shafter, California City, Tehachapi, Ridgecrest and part of Bakersfield

District 23:  

Incumbent: Lois Capps (D)

Current District:  Obama 66; McCain 32

Proposed District:  Obama 62; McCain 36

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 57 white ; 2 black ; 1 native american ; 4 asian ; 34 hispanic ; 2 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 53 white ; 2 black ; 0 native american ; 5 asian ; 39 hispanic ; 2 other

Includes part of San Luis Obispo Co. – Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, part of Santa Barbara Co. – Santa Maria, Guadalupe, Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, and part of Ventura Co. – Ojai, Santa Paula, Filmore, Simi Valley and part of Oxnard

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District 24:  

Incumbent: Elton Gallegly (R)

Current District:  Obama 51; McCain 48

Proposed District:  Obama 62; McCain 37

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 63 white ; 3 black ; 1 native american ; 6 asian ; 26 hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 57 white ; 2 black ; 0 native american ; 7 asian ; 31 hispanic ; 2 other

New Democratic district

Includes part of Ventura Co. – Ventura, Port Hueneme, Camarillo, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, and most of Oxnard, and part of Los Angeles Co. – Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice part of Los Angeles

District 25:

Incumbent: Howard McKeon (R)

Current District:  Obama 49; McCain 48

Proposed District:  Obama 63; McCain 35

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 30 white ; 7 black ; 1 native american ; 9 asian ; 50+ hispanic ; 2 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 28 white ; 6 black ; 1 native american ; 9 asian ; 55 hispanic ; 1 other

New Hispanic-majority district

New Democratic district

Includes all of Alpine, Mono and Inyo Counties, part of San Bernardino Co. – Adelanto, Victorville, and part of Los Angeles Co. – Baldwin Park, Irwindale, El Monte, Azusa, Covina, Claremont and parts of Pomona, Palmdale, Monrovia and Duarte

District 26:  

Incumbent: David Dreier (R)

Current District:  Obama 51; McCain 47

Proposed District:  Obama 62; McCain 37

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 24 white ; 6 black ; 1 native american ; 12 asian ; 55 hispanic ; 2 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 21 white ; 5 black ; 0 native american ; 12 asian ; 60 hispanic ; 1 other

New Hispanic-majority district

New Democratic district

Includes part of Los Angeles Co. – La Puente, South El Monte, Industry, West Covina, and part of Pomona, and part of San Bernardino Co. – Chino, Chino Hills, Montclair, and parts of Upland and Rancho Cucamonga

District 27:  

Incumbents: Brad Sherman (D)

Current District:  Obama 66; McCain 32

Proposed District:  Obama 64; McCain 34

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 54 white ; 5 black ; 1 native american ; 8 asian ; 29 hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 52 white ; 5 black ; 0 native american ; 9 asian ; 32 hispanic ; 2 other

Includes part of Kern Co. – Taft, Maricopa and part of Bakersfield, and part of Los Angeles Co. – part of Santa Clarita and part of the city of Los Angeles – parts of San Fernando Valley and Hollywood

District 28:  

Incumbent: Howard Berman (D)

Current District:  Obama 76; McCain 22

Proposed District:  Obama 64; McCain 34

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 26 white ; 7 black ; 1 native american ; 6 asian ; 58 hispanic ; 2 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 25 white ; 6 black ; 0 native american ; 6 asian ; 62 hispanic ; 1 other

Includes part of Los Angeles Co. – San Fernando, Lancaster, part of city of Los Angeles – San Fernando Valley, and part of Palmdale

This district is very likely to elect a Hispanic representative at some point in the near future

District 29:  

Incumbent: Adam Schiff (D)

Current District:  Obama 68; McCain 30

Proposed District:  Obama 63; McCain 35

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 49 white ; 7 black ; 1 native american ; 9 asian ; 31 hispanic ; 4 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 48 white ; 6 black ;  0 native american ; 10 asian ; 33 hispanic ; 2 other

Includes part of Los Angeles Co. – Burbank, Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Bradbury, Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and part of Los Angeles

District 30:  

Incumbent: Henry Waxman (D)

Current District:  Obama 70; McCain 28

Proposed District:  Obama 64; McCain 34

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 71 white ; 3 black ; 0 native american ; 10 asian ; 13 hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 69 white ; 2 black ; 0 native american ; 11 asian ; 16 hispanic ; 2 other

Includes part of Los Angeles Co. – Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Calabassas, Hidden Hills, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, part of Los Angeles – parts of Bel Air and San Fernando Valley, and most of Santa Clarita

District 31:  

Incumbent: Xavier Beccera (D)

Current District:  Obama 80; McCain 18

Proposed District:  Obama 72; McCain 26

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 25 white ; 5 black ; 1 native american ; 13 asian ; 53 hispanic ; 4 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 24 white ; 4 black ; 0 native american ; 14 asian ; 56 hispanic ; 2 other

Includes part of Los Angeles Co. – Glendale, La Canada Flintridge, and part of city of  Los Angeles

District 32:  

Incumbent: Judy Chu (D)

Current District:  Obama 68; McCain 30

Proposed District:  Obama 62; McCain 36

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 22 white ; 2 black ; 1 native american ; 42 asian ; 32 hispanic ; other

Estimated 2006-2008: 20 white ; 2 black ; 0 native american ; 45 asian ; 32 hispanic ; 1 other

New Asian-plurality district

Includes part of Los Angeles Co. –  Monterey Park, Alhambra, South Pasadena, San Marino, Temple City, San Gabriel, Rosemead, Arcadia, Walnut, Diamond Bar, La Habra Heights, part of Montebello and part of Los Angeles

The district becomes plurality Asian.  Many Hispanic-majority areas of the current CA-32 are detached in order to create the new Hispanic-majority CA-25 and CA-26 just to the north and east of the new CA-32.

District 33:  

Incumbent: Diane Watson (D) (retiring)

Current District:  Obama 87; McCain 12

Proposed District:  Obama 83; McCain 16

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 11 white ; 24 black ; 1 native american ; 11 asian ; 52 hispanic ; 2 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 11 white ; 21 black ; 0 native american ; 11 asian ; 56 hispanic ; 1 other

New Hispanic-majority district

Includes part of Los Angeles Co. – Lawndale, Culver City, and parts of Los Angeles, Inglewood and Hawthorne

District 34:  

Incumbent: Lucille Roybal-Allard (D)

Current District:  Obama 75; McCain 23

Proposed District:  Obama 70; McCain 28

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 26 white ; 6 black ; 1 native american ; 11 asian ; 54 hispanic ; 2 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 24 white ; 5 black ; 0 native american ; 12 asian ; 57 hispanic ; 1 other

Includes part of Los Angeles Co. –  Downey, Bellflower, Signal Hill, Vernon, Maywood, Bell Gardens, and parts of Los Angeles and Long Beach

District 35:  

Incumbent: Maxine Waters (D)

Current District:  Obama 84; McCain 14

Proposed District:  Obama 82; McCain 16

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 15 white ; 43 black ; 1 native american ; 9 asian ; 31 hispanic ; 2 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 15 white ; 40 black ; 0 native american ; 9 asian ; 34 hispanic ; 2 other

New African-American plurality district – yes, that may sound strange, but the current CA-35 is already over 50% Hispanic; this plan combines the most African-American parts of several districts into one; otherwise, there’s a good chance a black representative may not hold a single seat in southern California at some point during the next decade, as much of south-central LA has become Hispanic-majority

Includes part of Los Angeles Co. –  Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Avalon, and parts of Compton, Carson, Inglewood, Gardena and Hawthorne and Los Angeles (south central area and San Pedro)

District 36:  

Incumbent: Jane Harman (D)

Current District:  Obama 64; McCain 34

Proposed District:  Obama 64; McCain 35

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 58 white ; 5 black ; 0 native american ; 16 asian ; 17 hispanic ; 4 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 58 white ; 4 black ; 0 native american ; 18 asian ; 18 hispanic ; 2 other

Includes part of Los Angeles Co. – Palos Verdes Estates, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, El Segundo, and parts of Gardena and Los Angeles – Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, West LA and area around LAX

District 37:  

Incumbents: Laura Richardson (D)

Current District:  Obama 80; McCain 19

Proposed District:  Obama 69; McCain 29

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 21 white ; 11 black ; 1 native american ; 11 asian ; 54 hispanic ; 2 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 21 white ; 10 black ; 0 native american ; 12 asian ; 57 hispanic ; 1 other

New Hispanic-majority district



Includes part of Los Angeles Co. –  Paramount, Huntington Park, Bell, Cudahy, and parts of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and part of Orange Co. – Los Alamitos, Cypress, La Palma

District 38:  

Incumbent: Grace Napolitano (D)

Current District:  Obama 71; McCain 27

Proposed District:  Obama 62; McCain 36

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 25 white ; 2 black ; 1 native american ; 8 asian ; 62 hispanic ; 2 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 23 white ; 1 black ; 0 native american ; 8 asian ; 66 hispanic ; 1 other

Includes part of Los Angeles Co. –  Whittier, Norwalk, La Mirada, Santa Fe Springs, East LA, and parts of Los Angeles, Montebello and Pico Rivera, and part of Orange Co. – Fullerton, La Habra

District 39:

Incumbent: Linda Sánchez (D)

Current District:  Obama 65; McCain 32

Proposed District:  Obama 62; McCain 36

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 24 white ; 3 black ; 1 native american ; 15 asian ; 55 hispanic ; 2 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 22 white ; 3 black ; 0 native american ; 16 asian ; 58 hispanic ; 1 other

Includes part of Los Angeles Co. –  Lakewood, Hawaiian Gardens, Artesia, Cerritos, and parts of Los Angeles and Pico Rivera, and part of Orange Co. – Buena Park, Stanton and part of Anaheim

District 40:  

Incumbent: Ed Royce (R)

Current District:  Obama 47; McCain 51

Proposed District:  Obama 42; McCain 56

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 58 white ; 1 black ; 1 native american ; 19 asian ; 18 hispanic ; 2 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 53 white ; 1 black ; 0 native american ; 23 asian ; 21 hispanic ; 2 other

Includes part of Orange Co. – Brea, Yorba Linda, Placentia, Garden Grove, Fountain Valley, Newport Beach and part of Anaheim

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District 41:  

Incumbent: Jerry Lewis (R)

Current District:  Obama 44; McCain 54

Proposed District:  Obama 40; McCain 58

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 69 white ; 4 black ; 1 native american ; 3 asian ; 19 hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 62 white ; 4 black ; 1 native american ; 5 asian ; 26 hispanic ; 2 other

Includes part of San Bernardino Co. – Hesperia, Apple Valley, Barstow, Needles, Twentynine Palms, Yucca Valley, Big Bear Lake, Yucaipa, Grand Terrace, and parts of

Upland and Redlands, and part of Riverside Co. – Banning, Beaumont, Calimesa

District 42:  

Incumbent: Gary Miller (R)

Current District:  Obama 45; McCain 53

Proposed District:  Obama 43; McCain 55

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 72 white ; 1 black ; 0 native american ; 9 asian ; 14 hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 68 white ; 1 black ; 0 native american ; 11 asian ; 17 hispanic ; 2 other

Includes part of Orange Co. – San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, Orange, Villa Park, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita

District 43:  

Incumbent: Joe Baca (D)

Current District:  Obama 68; McCain 30

Proposed District:  Obama 65; McCain 33

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 28 white ; 13 black ; 1 native american ; 4 asian ; 50+ hispanic ; 2 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 22 white ; 12 black ; 0 native american ; 5 asian ; 59 hispanic ; 2 other

Includes part of San Bernardino Co. – city of San Bernardino, Colton, Rialto, Fontana, Highland, Loma Linda, part of Redlands

District 44:

Incumbent: Ken Calvert (R)

Current District:  Obama 50; McCain 49

Proposed District:  Obama 43; McCain 55

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 66 white ; 4 black ; 1 native american ; 4 asian ; 23 hispanic ; 2 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 56 white ; 4 black ; 1 native american ; 6 asian ; 32 hispanic ; 2 other

Includes part of Riverside Co. – Norco, Corona, Canyon Lake, Murrietta, San Jacinto, Hemet, and part of city of Riverside

District 45:  

Incumbent: Mary Bono (R)

Current District:  Obama 52; McCain 47

Proposed District:  Obama 65; McCain 34

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 33 white ; 10 black ; 1 native american ; 4 asian ; 50+ hispanic ; 2 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 28 white ; 9 black ; 1 native american ; 4 asian ; 57 hispanic ; 2 other

New Hispanic-majority district

New Democratic district

Includes part of Riverside Co. – Moreno Valley, Perris, Lake Elsinore, Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Indio, Coachella, Blythe and part of city of Riverside

District 46:  

Incumbent: Dana Rohrabacher (R)

Current District:  Obama 48; McCain 50

Proposed District:  Obama 64; McCain 34

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 27 white ; 10 black ; 1 native american ; 7 asian ; 54 hispanic ; 1 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 24 white ; 9 black ; 0 native american ; 8 asian ; 58 hispanic ; 1 other

New Hispanic-majority district

New Democratic district

Includes part of Los Angeles Co. –  Lynwood, South Gate, and parts of Compton, Carson and city of Los Angeles, and part of Orange Co. – Seal Beach, Westminster, Huntington Beach

District 47:  

Incumbent: Loretta Sanchez (D)

Current District:  Obama 60; McCain 38

Proposed District:  Obama 62; McCain 36

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 33 white ; 2 black ; 1 native american ; 12 asian ; 51 hispanic ; 2 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 28 white ; 2 black ; 0 native american ; 13 asian ; 55 hispanic ; 1 other

Includes part of Orange Co. – Santa Ana, Irvine, Costa Mesa, Tustin, Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo

District 48:  

Incumbent: John Campbell (R)*

Current District:  Obama 49; McCain 49

Proposed District:  Obama 62; McCain 36

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 33 white ; 8 black ; 1 native american ; 5 asian ; 50+ hispanic ; 2 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 27 white ; 7 black ; 0 native american ; 7 asian ; 58 hispanic ; 2 other

* District is completely “relocated” to another part of Southern California

New Hispanic-majority district

New Democratic district

Includes part of San Bernardino Co. – Ontario, and parts of Fontana and Rancho Cucamonga, and part of Riverside Co. – part of city of Riverside and part of Corona

District 49:  

Incumbent: Darrell Issa (R)

Current District:  Obama 45; McCain 53

Proposed District:  Obama 47; McCain 51

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 59 white ; 4 black ; 1 native american ; 6 asian ; 28 hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 54 white ; 3 black ; 0 native american ; 6 asian ; 34 hispanic ; 2 other

Includes part of San Diego County – Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad, San Marcos, Escondido, Camp Pendleton

This district becomes slightly more Democratic, and there’s a chance it may go our way sometime during the next decade if demographic changes here proceed along the current path.

District 50:  

Incumbent: Brian Bilbray (R)

Current District:  Obama 51; McCain 47

Proposed District:  Obama 62; McCain 37

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 60 white ; 4 black ; 1 native american ; 14 asian ; 17 hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 57 white ; 4 black ; 0 native american ; 16 asian ; 20 hispanic ; 3 other

New Democratic district

Includes part of San Diego County – northern part of San Diego, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas and coastal areas of Carlsbad and Oceanside

District 51:  

Incumbent: Bob Filner (D)

Current District:  Obama 63; McCain 35

Proposed District:  Obama 62; McCain 37

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 24 white ; 7 black ; 1 native american ; 13 asian ; 53 hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 21 white ; 6 black ; 1 native american ; 13 asian ; 57 hispanic ; 2 other

Includes all of Imperial Co., and part of San Diego County – southern part of San Diego, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove

This district is very likely to elect a Hispanic representative at some point in the near future

District 52:  

Incumbent: Duncan Hunter (R)

Current District:  Obama 45; McCain 53

Proposed District:  Obama 38; McCain 60

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 75 white ; 2 black ; 1 native american ; 3 asian ;16 hispanic ; 2 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 71 white ; 2 black ; 1 native american ; 4 asian ; 20 hispanic ; 2 other

Includes part of San Diego County – Poway, Santee, and part of Riverside Co. – Temecula, La Quinta, Indian Wells, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage

District 53:  

Incumbent: Susan Davis (D)

Current District:  Obama 68; McCain 30

Proposed District:  Obama 62; McCain 37

Proposed District Demographics:

2000 Census: 53 white ; 9 black ; 1 native american ; 7 asian ; 27 hispanic ; 3 other

Estimated 2006-2008: 51 white ; 8 black ; 1 native american ; 8 asian ; 30 hispanic ; 3 other

Includes part of San Diego County – central part of San Diego, Coronado, La Mesa, El Cajon

And that’s it for my plan … Thanks for comments and suggestions.

Outlook for the California State Legislature in 2010 – Post-Filing Deadline Edition

With the filing deadline passed, we are beginning to see how the fields are shaping up for the 2010 elections in California. While the range of competitive House districts has narrowed considerably, I am still including all 8 Obama-Republican districts to watch their trends.

Cross-posted at Calitics and Democracy for California.

Breaking news: We now have a registration advantage in Assembly District 5 and are closing in on CA-03!

District Incumbent DEM GOP Margin 2008 Result
CA-03
Dan Lungren
38.46%
39.04%
R+0.58
O+0.5
CA-24
Elton Gallegly
35.78%
41.53%
R+5.75
O+2.8
CA-25
Buck McKeon
37.42%
39.58%
R+2.16
O+1.1
CA-26
David Dreier
35.64%
40.15%
R+4.51
O+4.0
CA-44
Ken Calvert
34.67%
42.47%
R+7.80
O+0.9
CA-45
Mary Bono Mack
38.02%
41.50%
R+3.48
O+4.6
CA-48
John Campbell
29.36%
44.36%
R+15.00
O+0.7
CA-50
Brian Bilbray
31.33%
39.91%
R+8.58
O+4.2

Competitive and/or open state legislature districts are over the flip…

Our current numbers in the Senate are 25 Democrats/15 Republicans, with winning 2 GOP-held seats necessary for 2/3; and in the Assembly 49 Democrats/29 Republicans/1 Independent (who is term-limited)/1 Vacant (Dem seat which will be filled before Election Day), with winning 3 GOP-held seats necessary for 2/3.

SENATE

Republicans (4)

District Incumbent DEM GOP Margin 2008 Result
SD-04
Sam Aanestad
32.78%
43.83%
R+11.05
M+11.8
SD-12
Jeff Denham
49.13%
32.03%
D+17.10
O+17.6
SD-18
Roy Ashburn
31.76%
47.36%
R+15.60
M+23.1
SD-36
Dennis Hollingsworth
28.97%
45.60%
R+16.63
M+14.2

Democrats (5)

District Incumbent DEM GOP Margin 2008 Result
SD-16
Dean Florez
50.41%
32.00%
D+18.41
O+19.5
SD-22
Gilbert Cedillo
58.91%
14.39%
D+43.52
O+58.7
SD-24
Gloria Romero
53.53%
20.72%
D+32.81
O+41.3
SD-34
Lou Correa
44.22%
32.49%
D+11.73
O+16.8
SD-40
Denise Ducheny
46.47%
28.84%
D+17.63
O+25.7

ASSEMBLY

Republicans (16)

District Incumbent DEM GOP Margin 2008 Result
AD-03
Dan Logue
34.52%
39.91%
R+5.39
M+1.6
AD-05
Roger Niello
38.97%
38.05%
D+0.92
O+4.2
AD-25
Tom Berryhill
37.35%
41.70%
R+4.35
M+7.9
AD-26
Bill Berryhill
42.35%
38.88%
D+3.47
O+4.4
AD-30
Danny Gilmore
46.12%
36.12%
D+10.00
O+3.9
AD-33
Sam Blakeslee
35.89%
40.47%
R+4.58
O+1.4
AD-36
Steve Knight
38.92%
39.29%
R+0.37
O+0.8
AD-37
Audra Strickland
35.87%
41.04%
R+5.17
O+3.7
AD-38
Cameron Smyth
36.83%
39.62%
R+2.79
O+4.9
AD-63
Bill Emmerson
37.96%
40.01%
R+2.05
O+4.1
AD-64
Brian Nestande
36.08%
41.95%
R+5.87
O+1.8
AD-65
Paul Cook
36.91%
41.29%
R+4.38
M+4.1
AD-68
Van Tran
32.78%
40.78%
R+8.00
M+2.9
AD-70
Chuck DeVore
30.12%
42.93%
R+12.81
O+3.9
AD-74
Martin Garrick
30.88%
41.17%
R+10.29
O+2.2
AD-75
Nathan Fletcher
30.64%
39.58%
R+8.94
O+4.1

Democrats (15)

District Incumbent DEM GOP Margin 2008 Result
AD-07
Noreen Evans
52.94%
23.47%
D+29.47
O+43.3
AD-09
Dave Jones
56.92%
18.55%
D+38.37
O+49.0
AD-10
Alyson Huber
39.41%
39.18%
D+0.23
O+4.0
AD-15
Joan Buchanan
40.65%
35.70%
D+4.95
O+16.9
AD-20
Alberto Torrico
48.74%
19.90%
D+28.84
O+42.3
AD-21
Ira Ruskin
47.61%
26.40%
D+21.21
O+45.8
AD-23
Joe Coto
51.59%
18.60%
D+32.99
O+44.4
AD-31
Juan Arambula
50.40%
32.35%
D+18.05
O+26.1
AD-35
Pedro Nava
48.03%
27.56%
D+20.47
O+35.6
AD-47
Karen Bass
64.89%
11.14%
D+53.75
O+71.9
AD-50
Hector De La Torre
61.99%
15.82%
D+46.17
O+55.9
AD-76
Lori Saldaña
41.94%
26.52%
D+15.42
O+34.4
AD-78
Martin Block
42.97%
30.97%
D+12.00
O+21.8
AD-80
Manuel Perez
45.74%
35.25%
D+10.49
O+20.7

Five State California (horrible Democratic gerrymander :P)

Before I give everyone the details of this, I'd like to mention that this is not a realistic division of California, for a realistic view of California's political divisions; see californianintexas's diary.

Now that we have that out of the way, I'd like to present you with dgm's unholy atrocity that is the five states of California:

 

 

 

 Let's get to the carnage, shall we?

 

State 1 (New Marin)(Blue)

Population: 3,870,989
Demographics: (White 65%, Hispanic 19%)
Partisanship (Obama 59%; McCain 38%)
Population centers: (Marin County)

Notes: You might be asking yourself, why did I name this state “New Marin”? Well, the answer is because it was originally not going to include Marin County (and was going to be a roughly 54-44 state) but at the last minute, I decided that Marin County could be taken from the San Francisio based state and moved over here to effectively create 4 totally safe Democratic states.

 

State 2 (San Sacramento)(Green)

Population: 4,808,296
Demographics: (58% white, 15% Asian, 17% Hispanic)
Partisanship (Obama 65%; McCain 33%)
Population centers (San Francisco, Sacramento)

Notes: Say hello to, hypothetically, the most latte-sipping, free-loving, liberal hippie state in the entire country! Interestingly, this is only the second most Democratic state of the five Californias, but it is probably the most liberal of them all (what with a good chunk of it's population being comprised of San Francisco (as well as San Mateo County).

 

State 3 (California Grande)(Purple)

Population: 9,472,898
Demographics: (48% White, 11% Asian, 31% Hispanic)
Partisanship (Obama 60%; McCain 38%)
Population centers: (Fresno)

Notes: This is probably the least egregious of the states I've come up with (not that that's saying much but still…) It basically takes up the entire interior of the state, as well as the costal area between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

 

State 4 (Angeles Anaranjados)(Red)

Population: 8,252,698
Demographics: (39% White, Black 10%, Asian 11%, Hispanic 36%)
Partisanship: (Obama 66%, McCain 32%)
Population Center: Los Angeles

Notes: If anyone thought that creating at least 4 safe states out of California would be pretty, then you were very, very wrong (well, at least if you aren't willing to cede anything to the Republicans in the fifth state). This is more or less eastern Los Angeles combined with the Republican parts of Orange and San Diego counties (which is why this state is “only” a 66% Obama state, it would've easily been over 70% otherwise).

 

State 5 (Los Diegos)(Yellow)

Population: 10,700,726
Demographics (40% White, 11% Asian, 41% Hispanic)
Partisanship (Obama 46%; McCain 42%)
Population centers: (Los Angeles and San Diego)

Notes: What? Ok, ok, this is a true atrocity, but at the same time this is, in many ways, the worst of all worlds for California Republicans. On the one hand, even in a bad year, it still leans Democratic, but the Republicans here are probably going to be completely unable to take advantage of it (considering the lunatics Orange County and San Diego Republicans tend to like). Yes, it's quite obvious that the only reason it's like this is to give the Democrats an advantage, but I'm actually ok with that fact!

 

In conclusion: These 5 states are more or less guaranteed to go Democratic at the presidential level, elect two strong Democratic Senators (with the possible exception of Los Diegos), and have majority Democratic house delegations, so a little ugliness (and city-splitting) is a small price to pay for it :D.