Politics & Government
State Redistricting Commission Approves Final Draft
California's commission to curb gerrymandering and improve how the state draws congressional and state districts submits its final map.
The state's bipartisan redistricting commission approved a preliminary final map of California's state and congressional districts Friday, July 29, reshaping current districts across the South Bay Area.
The Citizens Redistricting Commission, 14-member commission composed of five Republicans and Democrats and four unaffiliated or declined-to-state members, is responsible for creating "districts of relatively equal population" to "provide fair representation for all Californians," according the commissions website.
Cupertino, Los Gatos, Campbell and Gilroy are all affected by the commission's proposed boundaries.
Find out what's happening in Gilroyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Cupertino would no longer be a part of the district it currently shares with Los Gatos, Campbell and Gilroy. It would move it into a much larger district with Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Milpitas, Fremont and Newark.
Gilroy would also no longer share a district with Cupertino, Los Gatos and Campbell. It would reside in two districts with San Jose, Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Hollister and other South Bay cities.
Find out what's happening in Gilroyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
But before the redistricting commission finalizes the new districts for the next decade, they must first hold public meetings throughout the state. There will be a meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at Gilroy City Hall about how redistricting will affect the Santa Clara Valley Water District.
After reviewing congressional and state districting boundaries a final time, the commission will vote to approve the new boundaries. The map needs at least a 2/3's vote (9 members) for it to pass. If the commission rejects the blueprint the California Supreme Court will then have jurisdiction over redistricting.
The process of redistricting has a history of being highly politicized and was used fro many years to secure both Republican and Democrat congressional seats. The Citizens Redistricting Commission, created last November as part of the 2008 Voters FIRST Act, was empanelled to curb gerrymandering and improve the way California draws its congressional and state districts.
