[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

The so-called "bipartisan" effort to change the way California's legislative districts are drawn is being almost entirely funded by major Republican donors and backers of Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, according to new reports filed with the Secretary of State.

As noted here last week, the biggest backer so far is the New Majority PAC, which kicked in $150,000. On its website, the PAC says its "continued priorities include increasing Republican voter registration in targeted communities, identifying quality Republican candidates with an emphasis on bringing diversity into the Republican Party and supporting legislative Republican leadership in targeted races." The Governor's campaign committee also has kicked in $50,000.

Those Republican interests received additional backing last week, when another major donor, David Horowitz of the Horowitz Group in Laguna Niguel, added his support with a $5,000 check. Horowitz has given more than $100,000 to Schwarzenegger's campaign efforts since 2006 and more than $30,000 to the New Majority PAC. Horowitz has also given thousands to right-wing Republicans including State Sen. Tom McClintock, Assemblymember Chuck DeVore, and Assemblywoman Mimi Walters.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Parallels with McNerney win over Pombo Seen, but will it be enough?

By Randy Bayne
The Bayne of Blog's California Notes

Democrats in the 3rd Congressional District pinned their hopes on an emergency room physician in 2006 and lost. This year they are once again hoping that Dr. Bill Durston can win this one time Republican haven, and with news of the shrinking lead in Republican registration numbers in the district, many are taking that optimism to a new level.

Their optimism began with what they saw as a similarity between the history of Jerry McNerney's campaign in the 11th CD, and Durston's campaign in the 3rd. The numbers are similar, and the progress identical. Both lost their first time out, registration numbers became more favorable, and McNerney won his second try. is it possible, they wonder, for Durston to win this go round?
Republican voter registration in California is on the decline, but nowhere is the effect more pronounced than in the Sacramento region's 3rd Congressional District.

by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

While the packagers of the latest attempt at redistricting are trying to brand it as "bipartisan" in naming Steve Westly as co-chair yesterday, it appears that it is being bankrolled by major Republican donors and long-time contributors to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
 
In statements filed with the Secretary of State, the biggest backer so far is the New Majority PAC, which kicked in $150,000. On its website, the PAC says its "continued priorities include increasing Republican voter registration in targeted communities, identifying quality Republican candidates with an emphasis on bringing diversity into the Republican Party and supporting legislative Republican leadership in targeted races."
 
The Governor's campaign committee also has kicked in $50,000.

Other contributors include: