"Under this redistricting, the state commission will be required to work toward districts that are geographically compact, preserve communities of interest, and avoid splitting cities and counties. In addition, they will not be able to know where incumbent legislators or candidates live. While the Legislature has in past years been able to draw lines to maintain incumbents, this will not be an option for the commission.
As a result, there are a number of candidates and incumbents who will have their victory party tainted by fear of new legislative lines that disrupt their once easy political futures.
Tim Donnelly is a Republican who rode a wave of Tea Party support to an upset victory in the Republican primary for the 59th Assembly District. He comes from a small town in the San Bernardino mountains and will represent one of the most gerrymandered seats in the legislature. His new seat includes five area codes and connects to nine different assembly seats.
Under the new redistricting rules this district should be dissolved, and his residence is very likely to fall into the district of recent AD 63 Republican primary winner Mike Morrell, setting up a contentious primary among freshman incumbents."
Redistricting in California: Were candidates running for nothing?
Capitol Weekly:
