Taking into account some suggestions and comments, I made some changes to my previous attempt at redistricting California. I conceded an additional 2 seats to the GOP, which concomitantly makes a number of other seats more strongly Democratic. The additional 2 safe GOP seats are CA-4 and CA-48. Here's what version 2 looks like, overall:
I decided to try my hand at redistricting California's Congressional districts for 2010-2012, using Dave's Redistricting App. After playing around with it a bit, here's what the map I came up with looks like overall:
Here's the 2008 Obama/McCain vote in California, on the precinct level:
Only one of the Obama Eight is in NorCal and it may be one of the hottest contests of the coming cycle. It's Dan Lungren vs. a slew a suddenly well-funded Dems.
Oh, and how's this for a little Democratic hustle? A source tells me that Bill Slaton, a SMUD Board Member and recent addition to the Dem field will post $227,000 for the first quarter and that he raised that amount in just three weeks with nothing but a phone and a rolodex.
In 2010, Democrats need a strong candidate to run in California's 3rd Congressional District, which is rapidly trending Democratic. In 2006, Bill Durston ran against Republican Dan Lungren and lost by 21.5 percent. In 2008, Durston ran again. This time, he came within 5.5 percent of winning and kept Lungren's vote total under 50%.
But Durston has decided not to run again. And with the DCCC targeting the district, we desperately need a candidate who can step in and finish the job that Bill Durston started.
John Garamendi is the absolute best person to lead the battle for California's 3rd Congressional District. He has deep roots in the district - he was born and raised in Mokelumne Hill, owns a ranch there, and was elected by the voters in the district to serve in the California state legislature from 1974 to 1990.
Last Wednesday, Senator Mark DeSaulnier, the only candidate for California's 10th to receive any public endorsements so far, wrapped up yet another important early one...that of the Contra Costa County Central Labor Council. Today the CCCCLC made it official.
This is in addition to endorsements by Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher, Congressman George Miller, California Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg, and State Assemblymember Tom Torlakson, as well as the Contra Costa Building Trades Council. Quite the impressive list.
After joining Assemblymember Joan Buchanan & Lt Gov. John Garamendi at last Thursday's Contra Costa Central Committee meeting, Mark DeSaulnier took a few moments on Monday night to speak with the Tri-Valley Democratic Club.
This is a local story that bleeds into the area of national security and the congressional races. Dan Lungren was warned about the situation last year but apparently completely ignored it. This involves the smuggling of foreign soils into the United States. These soils contain biological matter and in particular micro fungi and other microbes. This company then bio-engineered these organisms to create "organic pesticides." Unfortunately one worker at least is now gravely ill and company employees bragged of smuggling the soil past customs.
Lungren may be locked in a competitive race with Bill Durston, this is a seat we could take away from Republicans if this type of news gets out and catches the attention of local voters. Lungren sits as a Ranking Member on Homeland Security Subcommittee in the House. He brags of his SAFE ports act from 2006, but here is a case where he was less than enthusiastic about going to the mat for national security.
