Redistricting in America

A Democratic proposal to redraw congressional boundaries would push Colorado Senate President Brandon Shaffer — a Democrat — out of the district where he is running for Congress. The Democrats’ map places Shaffer’s Longmont residence in the 2nd Congressional District, a seat occupied by his fellow Democrat U.S. Rep. Jared Polis. The proposal would take Shaffer’s residence out of the 4th Congressional District, where Shaffer announced on July 4 that he would challenge incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner of Yuma.

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

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State Sen. Wendy Davis and state Rep. Marc Veasey, both Fort Worth Democrats, won a legal round Tuesday in their opposition to the Legislature's Texas Senate redistricting plans. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted the motion to intervene in the federal pre-clearance review of the plans. Davis and Veasey joined three other local residents last month in filing the motion, in which they describe the political boundaries drawn this year by a Republican-led Legislature as an affront to minorities.

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

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For the first time in state history, an independent group of citizens has redrawn California's political districts, approving a set of maps this morning that are expected to help Democrats garner more power in the solidly blue state.

The 14-member Citizens Redistricting Commission approved new district boundaries for the state Assembly, Senate and Board of Equalization on a 13-1 vote, with one Republican - Michael Ward of Anaheim - opposing the lines. Another Republican member, Jodie Filkins Webber of Norco, joined Weber to vote against the Congressional boundaries. In a written statement, Weber charged that the commission broke the law by splitting African-American voters among several congressional districts in Los Angeles County.