Cross posted on my blog http://racesandredistricting.blogspot.com/
This is the 2nd post out of three posts analyzing the 1st drafts of California's new congressional redistricting maps.This post covers districts 18-35. Part I is here: http://racesandredistricting.blogspot.com/...
For district maps, click here: http://www.latimes.com/...
For demographics and partisan data, click here: http://redistrictingpartners.com/...
California's 18th District Vacant (Dennis Cardoza (D) ? vs. Jeff Denham (R)?) Tracy/Manteca/Stanislaus County
Brown 44%, Whitman 49%
Obama 50%, McCain 47%
Demographics 4% African American, 6% Asian, 40% Hispanic
Status: Toss Up/Tilt Republican
The 18th district used to contain Democratic neighborhoods in Stanislaus County but gains all of Stanislaus County now, including the Republican towns of Oakdale. The 18th district also loses Stockton and all territory south of Stanislaus County. In San Joaquin County, the 18th district represents Democratic leaning Tracy and marginal Manteca. Despite Obama's win, Stanislaus County leans Republican but is trending Democratic due to its growing Hispanic population. The combination of these areas creates a slightly Republican leaning district but Cardoza has a strong shot here because he is a strong incumbent and the district is trending Democratic. If a strong Republican candidate such as Denham runs here though, Cardoza will have a very difficult race. Denham is a very strong candidate who formerly held a State Senate district that voted 59% for Obama before becoming the 19th district's representative.
California's 19th District Dennis Cardoza (D) vs. Jeff Denham (R)? vs. Jim Costa (D)? Merced/Madera/Fresno
Brown 50%, Whitman 42%
Obama 58%, McCain 39%
Demographics: 6% African American, 9% Asian, 58% Hispanic
Status: Likely Democratic
This district does not share much territory with the current 19th district which the commission divided between the new 18th, 21st and 4th districts. Although Denham represented the old 19th district, he lived in Atwater which the old 18th district represented. Due to the 58% Obama number in this district, Denham will probably not run here and run in the 18th instead. Cardoza may run here if Denham runs in the 18th so Cardoza does not face an uphill battle. Cardoza's current district and this one share Merced and Madera Counties. Cardoza may face a primary challenge from Rep. Jim Costa (D) who lives in Fresno and lives in the new 19th district. In 2010, Costa barely won reelection in the 20th district which contained Republican areas such as Kings County. He may want a safer district that does not contain Kings County. To avoid a primary challenge from Cardoza though, Costa may run in the 71% Hispanic 20th district. Although the district represents Hispanic areas, splitting Fresno may not be the best idea for communities of interest. Still, respecting the Voting Rights Act which mandates that districts designed to elect minority candidates should be drawn is more important than respecting communities of interest. Drawing a district containing all of Fresno and its suburbs would most likely not have enough Hispanics to elect a Hispanic candidate but this district that contains Merced County and Hispanic parts of Fresno does.
California's 20th District Vacant (Jim Costa (D)?) western Fresno County/Kings County/Bakersfield
Brown 48%, Whitman 44%
Obama 51%, McCain 46%
Demographics: 5% African American, 4% Asian, 71% Hispanic
Status: Lean Democratic
The new 20th district loses its population base in Fresno and gains some Hispanic parts of Tulare County as well as more territory in Kern County. Although the district's population is 71% Hispanic, Jerry Brown only won the district by four points. The reason is that the Hispanics in this district tend to have lower turnout rates and vote less Democratic than Hispanics in nearby districts such as the new 19th. As for the 20th district's representative, Costa may run here if he wants to avoid a primary challenge from Cardoza but Costa's close win in 2010 may deter him from running in a district that contains heavily Republican Kings County. If Costa chooses to run in the 19th, possible candidates include former State Senator Dean Florez (D) and State Senator Michael Rubio (D) from Bakersfield. On the Republican side, State Assembly member David Valadao (R) may consider running. He is a strong candidate because he is Hispanic in this heavily Hispanic district and currently represents a heavily Hispanic assembly district.
California's 21st District Devin Nunes (R) Clovis/Visalia
Brown 35%, Whitman 59%
Obama 42%, McCain 55%
Demographics: 7% Asian, 45% Hispanic
Status: Safe Republican
The 21st district loses Porterville and its territory in the Sierras but besides these changes, the lines remain similar. Nunes still represents a strongly Republican district combining Republican parts of Fresno and Tulare Counties. This district also represents communities of interest by combining small cities and suburbs such as Clovis that have a mix of Hispanics and conservative white voters.
California's 22nd District Kevin McCarthy (R) Bakersfield/Porterville/Lancaster
Brown 33%, Whitman 58%
Obama 35%, McCain 62%
Demographics: 6% African American, 5% Asian, 35% Hispanic
Status: Safe Republican
The 22nd district undergoes a few changes. It loses all of heavily Republican inland San Luis Obispo County and gains parts of Tulare County such as the Sierras and Porterville. Besides these changes, the 22nd district remains safe for McCarthy and heavily Republican.
California's 23rd District Lois Capps (D) San Luis Obispo County/Santa Barbara County
Brown 47%, Whitman 46%
Obama 57%, McCain 42%
Demographics: 4% Asian, 35% Hispanic
Status: Lean Democratic
The 23rd district undergoes some major changes as its lines become similar to its lines during the 1990s. The 23rd district loses all of heavily Democratic Oxnard and gains inland San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, both strongly Republican areas. Before the commission changed the lines, the 23rd district protected Capps from Republican challenges by representing a thin line along the coast that contained Democratic areas such as UCSB, CAL Poly and Oxnard. A 10 mile wide strip along the coast was not compact so the new 23rd district combines communities of interest. As for Capps, her district was extremely competitive during the 1990s but the 23rd district is trending Democratic with its universities and growing Hispanic populations. Also, she is more entrenched now but she may face a challenge from former Lieutenant Governor and State Senator from San Luis Obispo County Abel Maldonado (R). Although Obama won solidly here, Brown barely won because the university areas had much lower turnout than they did in 2008. As long as Capps can keep the turnout in the universities high, she should win but if it is low and Maldonado wins big in San Luis Obispo County, Capps will be in trouble.
California's 24th District Vacant (Elton Gallegly (R)?) Oxnard/Thousand Oaks/Malibu
Brown 47%, Whitman 47%
Obama 57%, McCain 40%
Demographics: 6% Asian, 42% Hispanic
Status: Lean Democratic if Gallegly does not run, Lean Republican if he does
The 24th district undergoes major changes as it loses all of Inland Santa Barbara County and Simi Valley and gains the Democratic areas of Oxnard and Malibu. The old 24th district voted for Obama by a small margin but Gallegly always performed strongly there. His home Simi Valley is now in the 25th district but Gallegly will probably not run there because voters in the other parts of the new 25th district such as Palmdale are unfamiliar to him. In the last few election cycles though, Gallegly hinted he wants to retire. He has not run a tough race in many years and a 57% Obama district will definitely interest a strong Democratic candidate. That percentage may convince him to retire, paving the way for a strong candidate such as State Senator Fran Pavley (D) from Oxnard. If State Senator Tony Strickland (R) who represents Santa Barbara and the more conservative parts of Ventura County runs, this race will be tough. Still, the Obama turnout in 2012 should help Pavley.
California's 25th District Buck McKeon (R) vs. Elton Gallegly (R) Simi Valley/Santa Clarita/Palmdale
Brown 39%, Whitman 53%
Obama 45%, McCain 51%
Demographics: 8% African American, 7% Asian, 35% Hispanic
Status: Safe Republican
The 25th district changes as it loses Mono and Inyo Counties while gaining conservative Simi Valley. The 25th retains conservative Santa Clarita and Democratic trending Palmdale. Although parts of the district are trending Democratic, McKeon is an entrenched incumbent and McCain still won here by 6. McKeon should have no problems against Democrats here and should beat Gallegly in a primary.
California's 26th District David Dreier (R) Covina/San Dimas/Baldwin Park
Brown 57%, Whitman 35%
Obama 61%, McCain 33%
Demographics: 15% Asian, 63% Hispanic
Status: Safe Democratic
Dreier's home of San Dimas is in the district but due to Obama's 61% performance here and the 63% Hispanic population, Dreier will probably not run in this district. This district is extremely different from Dreier's current district because this district contains the Hispanic areas of El Monte and Covina although retaining the Republican leaning San Dimas and Glendora areas. As for possible candidates for this district, State Senator Ed Hernandez (D) and the State Assembly's Assistant Majority Whip, Roger Hernandez (D) may consider running here.
California's 27th District Brad Sherman (D) vs. Howard Berman (D) Calabasas/West San Fernando Valley/
Brown 57%, Whitman 38%
Obama 65%, McCain 33%
Demographics: 4% African American, 12% Asian, 27% Hispanic
Status: Safe Democratic
The 35% for McCain is too low to let a Republican win in the new 27th district so the real contest should be the primary. In 2002, the San Fernando Valley had a large Hispanic population but it was divided between Sherman's and Berman's districts so Sherman and Berman could be reelected. The commission though decided that the San Fernando Valley needed a Hispanic majority district so they placed the whiter parts of the San Fernando Valley into this district. Although the new 27th district contains more of Sherman's district, Berman has more seniority. If Berman does want this district, it is possible Sherman will run in the nearby Ventura County district containing Oxnard. Berman has said he will stay in the 28th district though. As for communities of interest, this district follows that criterion by combining mostly upscale parts of the San Fernando Valley area.
California's 28th District Vacant San Fernando/East San Fernando Valley
Brown 67%, Whitman 28%
Obama 71%, McCain 27%
Demographics: 4% African American, 8% Asian, 68% Hispanic
Status: Safe Democratic
In 2002, many Hispanic groups were unhappy that the San Fernando Valley did not receive a Hispanic majority, despite the area's large Hispanic population. The commission created this Hispanic majority district though by combining areas near I-5 and I-210. Although this district contains most of Berman's current district, he may not run here due to the district's high Hispanic population. Berman said he is staying with this district but he may decide he will not survive a Hispanic primary challenge. A possible candidate includes rising star in the State Senate Alex Padilla (D).
California's 29th District Adam Schiff (D) Burbank/Pasadena/Upland
Brown 55%, Whitman 40%
Obama 62%, McCain 36%
Demographics: 6% African American, 12% Asian, 27% Hispanic
Status: Safe Democratic, Likely Democratic if Dreier runs
The 29th district mostly represents communities of interest by combining the similar areas of Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena. It also represents Upland in San Bernardino County which is far from BGP but is a community of interest as an upscale foothill community. Dreier may run here because this district and his current district share many of the foothill towns such as Upland and Claremont. Schiff should win though due to his base in the Democratic Pasadena area.
California's 30th District Henry Waxman (D)
Brown 69%, Whitman 25%
Obama 71%, McCain 28%
Demographics: 4% African American, 18% Asian, 37% Hispanic
Status: Safe Democratic
The current 30th represents communities of interest by combining upscale communities in the Westside including Malibu, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills. This district though does not completely combine communities of interest. Although it combines some upscale communities such as Pacific Palisades and Beverly Hills, it combines these areas with more working class neighborhoods near Downtown Los Angeles. The 30th district should represent either upscale areas in West LA or working class neighborhoods near Downtown Los Angeles, not both. The two areas have different concerns, one having a large film industry presence while the other is focused more around labor. As for Waxman, he should no problem winning in this heavily Democratic district and the 37% Hispanic is not high enough for a Hispanic primary challenger.
California's 31st District Xavier Beccara (D) vs. Lucille Roybal Allard (D) Eagle Rock/East Los Angeles/Huntington Park
Brown 76%, Whitman 17%
Obama 78%, McCain 16%
Demographics: 10% Asian, 71% Hispanic
Status: Safe Democratic
This district combines two VRA Hispanic majority districts so if this map passes, it is likely to receive a lawsuit. The Hispanic population in the Los Angeles area is growing and can definitely support Beccara and Allard's districts. The district does combine communities of interest though by representing the heavily Hispanic areas of Huntington Park, East Los Angeles and Commerce.
California's 32nd district Judy Chu (D) Arcadia/Pasadena/Diamond Bar
Brown 54%, Whitman 41%
Obama 61%, McCain 38%
Demographics: 49% Asian, 29% Hispanic
Status: Likely Democratic
The 32nd district becomes less Hispanic by losing all of East Los Angeles, El Monte and West Covina. The district becomes more Asian by gaining Arcadia, Temple City and San Marino. The district then goes toward the San Bernardino County border to gain heavily Asian cities there including Walnut and Diamond Bar. This district suits its representative, Judy Chu because her current district is heavily Hispanic and a Hispanic candidate could unseat her in the primary. The Hispanic population in this district is 29% though so Chu should have no problems winning the Democratic primary. Asians do not consider themselves one ethnic group but they will probably support another Asian candidate over a Hispanic candidate. Although Chu is safe from a primary challenge, Rep. Gary Miller's (R) home of Diamond Bar was drawn into this district. He will probably not run here because not only does this district lean Democratic; he is unfamiliar to the voters in the western half of the district. As for communities of interest, the district combines heavily Asian suburban areas but the western part is in the San Gabriel Foothills while the eastern part is closer to San Bernardino County.
California's 33rd District Karen Bass (D) Culver City/Ladera Heights
Brown 77%, Whitman 17%
Obama 81%, McCain 18%
Demographics: 22% African American, 11% Asian, 37% Hispanic
Status: Safe Democratic
The 33rd district becomes less African American as it gains neighborhoods between Sunset Blvd., Santa Monica and Beverly Hills and loses some neighborhoods just to Beverly Hills's south. These changes reduce the African American population to 22% and increase the Hispanic population to 37%. Hispanic turnout rates are usually low so there should be higher African American turnout in the Democratic primary than Hispanic turnout. Also, Bass is popular with white liberals so she should perform well with white voters in the primary too. As for communities of interest, this district splits the white population in the Westside that should be represented in one district. The 33rd district's new lines should be similar to its current ones instead.
California's 34th District Vacant Pomona/Ontario
Brown 49%, Whitman 41%
Obama 55%, McCain 44%
Demographics: 7% African American, 9% Asian, 57% Hispanic
Status: Lean Democratic
This new district contains mostly Hispanic areas by combining Pomona and Ontario. The district also contains Rancho Cucamonga which has a smaller Hispanic population but is close to Pomona and Ontario so it can be considered a community of interest. As for the district's next representative, Gloria Negrete McLeod (D) said, "I'm in." She is a Hispanic State Senator representing Pomona and Ontario. Possible Republicans include David Dreier (R) because he formerly represented Rancho Cucamonga. For Dreier to win though, he will have to perform well with Hispanic voters in Pomona and Ontario. This will be difficult though because McLeod should perform well with Hispanic voters and win in Pomona and Ontario because the voters there are familiar with her. Also, this district is trending Democratic as more Hispanics move here so if a Democrat does not win in 2012, a Democrat should win in '14.
California's 35th District Maxine Waters (D) Inglewood/Westmont/Bell Gardens
Brown 84%, Whitman 9%
Obama 88%, McCain 11%
Demographics: 21% African American, 75% Hispanic
Status: Safe Democratic
This district is too Democratic to elect a Republican but the primaries will be interesting. The 35th district is now 75% Hispanic and the 21% African American population is probably not enough for Waters to win the primary. Rep. Linda Sanchez (D) may run here because her current district becomes less Hispanic and the new 35th district gains some of her current territory by gaining South Gate. The district's large Hispanic population plus a strong challenge from Sanchez should unseat Waters. The 35th combines communities of interest by representing working class areas in and around South Central Los Angeles.