Congressional maps favor Democrats as California completes redistricting [View all]

WASHINGTON — The process wasn’t always pretty, but California’s redistricting commission has finalized its new map of the state’s congressional districts, largely sparing the Bay Area of major changes and overall favoring Democrats in the state.

The political boundaries that will dictate representation for the next 10 years will be officially transmitted to the secretary of state by the Dec. 27 deadline, paving the way for candidates to make final decisions about their futures by the March 11 filing deadline. The commission voted unanimously to approve its maps late Monday night.

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Overall, outside experts analyze the map as favorable to Democrats. Several swing Democratic seats now lean more left, based on voting data, including the one represented by Rep. Josh Harder, D-Turlock (Stanislaus County), whose district shifted several times over the weeks of drawing as the commission grappled with how to draw San Joaquin County. Many close Republican-held seats also will swing left, including those of Reps. David Valadao of Hanford (Kings County) and Mike Garcia of Santa Clarita (Los Angeles County). Redistricting expert Paul Mitchell predicts the map favors 43 Democrats and nine Republicans. The current split is 42-11.

Link (paywall): https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Congressional-maps-favor-Democrats-as-California-16719125.php

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