Valley vs. City: New State Political Districts Move South and East

The California Redistricting Commission finalized its new maps for political districts for California State Assembly, State Senate, and U.S. Congress on Monday.

View the maps that will be used for voting in the next decade here, or at right.

The 14-member commission was made up of a range of California citizens, per the guidelines of Proposition 11 in 2008 and Proposition 20 in 2010, which took the power to draw those political districts out of the hands of the lawmakers.

The new, finalized maps will affect how Sonoma and its Valley environs are represented at the state and national level.

The Congressional and State Senate seat connect Sonoma with much of the Sonoma Valley (including El Verano and Boyes Hot Springs), shifting the district significantly to the east. Sonoma is largely separated from western Sonoma County and Marin: the city remains in State Senate District 3, which now encompass large swaths of Fairfield County and western Sacramento.

The State Assembly maps shift Sonoma from District 3 to District 10, cutting out Glen Ellen and the Springs, instead including large swaths of Santa Rosa.

You can see the new maps at right or by visiting wedrawthelines.ca.gov.

The Los Angeles Times has also created interactive maps showing how the districts have changed. According to polling information compiled by the Times, Sonoma's new districts skew slightly more diverse and slightly more Republican. 

Approved by voters in November 2008, Proposition 11 gave the Commission the authority to draw the new district lines on the electoral maps for the Assembly, State Senate and Board of Equalization. In November 2010, voters voted to have the Commission draw the congressional lines, too.

"For far too long Californians have been frustrated by a Legislature that drew districts that primarily supported the re-election of incumbent legislators," Commissioner Vince Barabba said in reference to gerrymandering and the need for the new process, which he called "transparent and fair.

"The voters showed they wanted fundamental government reform by creating the Citizens Redistricting Commission charged with the responsibility to create districts that provided candidates of all political persuasion a fair chance to be elected," he said.  

The Commission submitted final redistricting maps Monday to the Secretary of State for certification. The public now has 45 days to file any complaints, which will be reviewed by the California Supreme Court, according to spokesman Rob Wilcox.

In the 65-page report, the Commission detailed its methodology, which included their attempt to fold Assembly districts into one-Senate districts and keep communities with shared interests together.

The commissioners, 14 citizens chosen from an applicant pool of more than 36,000, cannot hold public office for the next 10 years, or work in the Legislature or be a lobbyist for five years after the maps have been certified.

In total, 34 public meetings in 32 locations around the state took place, and more than 2,700 people participated in person. The commission received 20,000 written comments.