Redistricting Maps Complete; Challenges Ahead

The lines have been drawn – and finalized – but there are challenges ahead.

California’s independent redistricting commission certified new legislative, congressional, Senate and State Board of Equalization maps Monday, but the Republican Party is disputing the new Senate boundaries.

Locally, the new congressional map has raised some hairs. It places all of Lake Elsinore and Wildomar into District 42 (see attached map), but it leaves out much of a key Southwest Riverside city.

Under the new congressional lines, much of Temecula and North County San Diego now fall into District 50.

The new legislative map now puts all of Lake Elsinore and Wildomar into the State Assembly’s 67th District (see attached map). Under the old map, the two cities were divided among the 66th and 64th districts represented by Kevin Jeffries (R-Lake Elsinore) and Brian Nestande (R-Palm Desert), respectively.

In the Senate, Lake Elsinore and Wildomar will be represented in District 28, and the two cities will be part of the state Board of Equalization’s District 4 (see attached maps).

California Republican Party Chairman Tom Del Beccaro told The Associated Press that his party is backing a petition for a referendum on the June 2012 ballot to overturn the new state Senate districts because he said the new lines favor Democrats.

"There isn't any doubt that this commission did not apply consistent standards when drawing its maps - and the worst of that relates to Senate maps," Del Beccaro told the Associated Press.

The redistricting commissioners defended their maps, saying they conducted dozens of public hearings and drew the lines according to law.

All the new maps were approved 13-1, with Republican commissioner Michael Ward (Anaheim) voting in opposition. Ward along with Republican commissioner Jodie Filkins Webber of Norco voted against the new congressional boundaries.

Redistricting maps for Riverside County's supervisorial districts are expected to be certified next month.