New Maps Won't Re-Draw State's Party Lines

Today in Sacramento and in Washington it's all about maps.

Folks are more interested in maps than a convention of cartographers.

These maps represent the potential redistribution of political power in California.

The preliminary report by the Citizens Redistricting Commission draws the lines for the state legislature and the California congressional delegation.

This is preliminary.

There will be community hearings on the borders and plenty of changes will be made. But there is worry from incumbents that the new maps will result in some current politicians being drawn out of their current district while others will end up with constituencies that will probably leave them little choice but to retire.

Washington is interested because of the impact this will have on the House delegation from the nation's largest state.

David Dreier (R-San Dimas) is one of the few Republicans left in Los Angeles county. There was talk his district would be redrawn so that he would end up with more Democrats among his constituents, imperiling his re-election next year.

The changes for the 26th District don't appear to have been all that dramatic, although the district does now extend into the high desert north of the San Gabriel mountains.

Rep. Howard Berman (D-Mission Hills) is also one who could face retirement.

His district may end up with more Latino neighborhoods, and many within his own party may demand that a Latino representi it.

The borders of the new 28th district appear to be similar to the old one… but even some slight changes could alter the balance of power.

None of these mapping shifts, whether sublte or dramatic, mean a shift in political power.

California will remain a one-party state.

There is no combination of border movement that could move Republicans into a majority in either Sacramento or in the House delegation. But there will be some new faces.

Read NBC LA's news coverage of redistricting here.

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