Noteworthy

Summary of New California House Districts

75% of new seats have Democrat pluralities

While a great deal of discussion about candidates and opportunities will follow in the days and weeks ahead, here is a summary of California's 53 new proposed Congressional districts, their populations by party affiliation, and indications of competitiveness...

Download and view Summary of California's 53 House Districts for 2012 - 2022 (PDF)

Top Level Review:

• The Commission created 40 districts where the Democrats are the largest party (75%), and 13 where Republicans hold the plurality (25%).  Sidenote: Of Californians who choose to register with one of the two major parties, 59% choose the Democrats (7,569,581)and 41% choose the Republican Party (5,307,411).
   
• While Democrats were given the greatest number of total seats (40 vs 13), Republicans were given greatest number of competitive districts, both in absolute and relative terms.  Of the 40 districts where the Democrats are the largest party ("Democrat districts"), only two (5%) have a party registration advantage of under 5%, and 4 (10%) have an advantage of under 10%.  Among the 13 districts where Republicans hold the plurality ("Republican districts"), 4 (30%) have a registration advantage under 5%, and 8 (62%) have an advantage under 10%.
   
• The average registration advantage in the Democrat districts is 22.4%.  In the Republican districts it is 12.1%.
   
• No incumbent Democrat was drawn into a Republican district.  Four Republicans were drawn into or are expected to run in districts where the Democrats are the largest party: Mssrs. Dreier, Lungren, Gallegly, and Denham.   
   
• The most heavily Republican district in the state will be the 52nd district, represented by Rep. Duncan Hunter.  The district has a Republican registration advantage of 21.6%.  Rep. Barbara Lee will hold the state's most Democratic district: her party enjoys a 55.3% advantage in the 13th district. 

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