[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Brian Leubitz
Founder and Publisher
Calitics

At this weekend's Executive Board meeting for the California Democratic Party, the resolutions committee (hey, that's me!) will be taking a look at the initiatives that will appear on the November ballot. There are some initiatives that should be rejected out of hand. The anti-marriage equality and the parental notification fall under this category. We've already rejected parental notification (twice!) and the CDP platform includes a plank supporting marriage equality.

But when there are 10+ initiatives on the ballot, there are some initiatives that aren't as cut and dried. Chief among these is the "California Voters First" Initiative. I've written about this before, and I still think that not only is it a pseudo-reform, it's a Republican-leaning pseudo-reform.

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

Today’s Contra Costa Times citing unnamed “observers”, fills in the blanks in the Governor’s claim that his redistricting initiative will make Legislative contests more “competitive”.

It could cost the Democrats six seats in the Assembly and two in the Senate, diluting Democratic control of the Legislature.

So why should Democrats support this change?

Republicans have about 34% of the state’s registration. Why not simply allocate them 27 seats (34%) of the Legislative seats. Start the Democrats with 36 seats (their proportionate share) and arrange the remaining 17 seats so the registration is equal to the two-party take (45-34). This would provide the Democrats with a 53 seat upside and only one Republican needed to pass the budget or raise taxes on multi-millionaires.

Republicans would need to win 14 of the 17 to control the Assembly – not an impossible job if they stop recruiting extremists whose views are at odds with the people.

I could accomplish this reform – sufficient competition to make both parties sweat blood – with only a few changes.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

An election district is either “safe” for the Democrats or Republicans or it is “competitive” - a seat where the outcome is not predetermined by party registration numbers.

I would argue that any Assembly District carried by Phil Angelides is a “safe” Democratic seat. Logically, then, seats carried by Governor Schwarzenegger that were also won by the Democratic candidate for Assembly are “competitive” districts. Or safe Republican seats. I would argue any seat where Richard Mountjoy defeated Diane Feinstein is a safe GOP seat.

Schwarzenegger carried 22 districts won by the Democrat for Assembly.

Mountjoy carried 19 seats against Feinstein, all also carried by the Republican for Assembly.

So 41 seats in the Assembly are invulnerable to challenge by the party out of power.

But that leaves 39 seats that have been carried by either the Democrat or the Republican. These seats are competitive between the two parties – by definition.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

OR, DO G.O.P. CANDIDATES NEED BETTER CANDIDATES AND BETTER POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS?

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

An election district is either “safe” for the Democrats or Republicans or it is “competitive” - a seat where the outcome is not predetermined by party registration numbers.

I would argue that any Assembly District carried by Phil Angelides is a “safe” Democratic seat. Logically, then, seats carried by Governor Schwarzenegger that were also won by the Democratic candidate for Assembly are “competitive” districts. Or safe Republican seats. I would argue any seat where Richard Mountjoy defeated Diane Feinstein is a safe GOP seat.

Schwarzenegger carried 22 districts won by the Democrat for Assembly.

Mountjoy carried 19 seats against Feinstein, all also carried by the Republican for Assembly.

So 41 seats in the Assembly are invulnerable to challenge by the party out of power.

But that leaves 39 seats that have been carried by either the Democrat or the Republican. These seats are competitive between the two parties – by definition.