California remap gives Democrats more districts

[alp227]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

California will have more political districts dominated by Democratic voters over the next decade, according the latest version of the state's redrawn political map set to be released today.

But more of those Democrats will be facing competitive races.

After looking at the maps, some Latino organizations are concerned that the state's fastest-growing group isn't being accurately represented in some parts of Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley.

"This is not a map that was drawn to ensure that Latinos had every opportunity to elect candidates of their choice," said Arturo Vargas, executive director for the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/28/BAHT1KFU55.DTL

[liberal N proud]

1. California is about the only place that is happening

The rest of the country is being re-divided to insure the republicans have more districts.

[NV Whino]

2. California took redistricting away from the politicos

and gave it to a 14-member, bipartisan committee. 6 dems, 6 repubs, 2 of neither party. We had previously done it on a state level, and this year took it nationally.

[Igel]

5. But it's still got a political aim.

One could just have a computer divvy the state up into simple geometric tiles with equivalent populations, then go through and try to adjust the tiles to avoid cutting through neighborhoods or slicing off a chunk of a neighboring only to attach those 23 houses with a berg 5 miles away.

For reasons of local and federal law, as well as majority personal opinion, they made an attempt to keep ethnic voting blocs together. This resulted in some prescribed gerrymandering in the direction of precisely what the Latino advocate complained hadn't gone far enough: Making sure that the electoral map was drawn to make sure that specific ethnic groups could, presumably, be guaranteed electing people with specific skin colors or countries of (familial) origin.

[Tikki]

3. This is the best thing to happen....finally...

the new district lines will put my STUPID repug congressman into
a Congressional District he could really lose.

That will be my Happy, Happy Day.

Tikki

[Auggie]

4. Love it... repuke thinking bites them in the ass again

They were hoping to pick up seats.