California Republicans are quite upset about proposed redistricting maps released Friday by Governor Newsom’s Administration. Doug LaMalfa’s First Congressional District would be carved up, with Shasta, Siskiyou and Modoc Counties sharing a district with Marin County, which is represented by Democrat Jared Huffman. LaMalfa has said he opposes mid-decade redistricting, regardless of whether it’s done in Texas or California. In 2008 a ballot initiative established the California Citizens Redistricting Commission in an attempt to reduce partisanship in the redistricting process. A special election is planned for November to seek voter approval for the new plan. If voters agree, the new map would replace the one drawn by the independent commission that took effect in 2022. The new map would only take effect if Texas or another Republican-led state moves forward with their own mid-decade redistricting and would remain through the 2030 elections. Democrats said they will return the map-making power to the commission after the next census.
-Steve Gibson