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California Common Cause
California Voters FIRST is a redistricting reform initiative California Common Cause hopes to place on the November 2008 ballot. California Voters FIRST will create a truly independent and open citizen's commission to draw legislative districts, putting an end to political gerrymandering. Click here to learn more. Click here to find out how you can help! We Did It!
Meet Gerry
California Common Cause was excited to work with Citizen Schools to help a small group of Daily City middle school students learn about redistricting. Click here to see the amazing artwork the students created when interpreting real California district shapes. When looking at the districts, the students saw all kinds of pictures - from a vulture, to a sad puppy to a witch! Go to www.meetgerry.com to learn more.
Meet Jim Hightower!
One Month Left!
March 15, 2008: As you know, we are spearheading the California Voters FIRST effort to make California's redistricting process open and fair, putting an end to incumbents gerrymandering districts to serve their own interests. We only have one month left to gather the 1 million signatures needed to put California Voters FIRST on the November ballot. Voters deserve the chance to vote on this important issue! With 1 signature/1 personal contact at a time we can end political gerrymandering! For petitions, please contact JoAnn Fuller at (916) 443-1792 x 11 or jfuller@commoncause.org and let her know how many signatures you hope to collect.
Did your vote count? March 6, 2008: We’ve been working tirelessly on LA County’s “Double Bubble Trouble”problem, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the only problem voters faced on Election Day. We've also heard from voters who had been dropped from the voter registration lists, had their political party changed or found that their polling place ran out of ballots. We are working hard to make sure that these problems don’t happen again. But we need to hear from you! Please email us at ca-info@commoncause.org with any voting concerns or problems you faced. LA County to Count Ballots February 26, 2008: California Common Cause commends the LA County Registrar for working to count decline to state voters’ ballots. Working with groups like CCC, the Registrar announced today that they will count a significant number of votes cast on Election Day that had previously been uncounted due to ballot design flaws. These ballots had previously been uncounted because the ballot for decline to state voters required voters to fill in an extra bubble. Unfortunately, many voters were confused and did not fill this in, possibly invalidating their ballot. Click here for our press release.
Steve Westly Joins Gov. Schwarzenegger as Co-Chair of California Voters FIRST February 26, 2008: Today, California Voters FIRST announced that former State Controller Steve Westly will co-chair the redistricting campaign with Governor Schwarzenegger. “I’m excited to be a part of this team. Legislators designing their own districts is a clear conflict of interest – this initiative solves that problem. California Voters First puts the task of reapportionment into the hands of a truly independent multi-partisan commission,” said Westly. Click here for the press release. Click here to learn more.
Help End Gerrymandering!
February 12, 2008: California Common Cause teaming up with our campaign partners to help you learn more about California Voters FIRST and how to effectively gather signatures to qualify it for the November ballot. Currently, we have workshops planned for Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland and San Diego. Click here for more information and check back as we add more locations! "Bubble Trouble"
CCC: Yes on Prop 93 January 18, 2008: California Common Cause today announced its endorsement of Proposition 93, a measure that will reform California’s term limits. Despite the legislative leadership’s failure to adhere to their agreement to place a redistricting reform measure on the ballot along with the term limits proposition, CCC believes that term limits arbitrarily limit the right of voters to elect their representatives from among the most qualified candidates while at the same time giving more power and influence to special interest lobbyists. Click here to read the press release. Click here for more information about the February 5th ballot. $ Spent to Influence Your Vote! January 17, 2008: California Common Cause has begun tracking the millions of dollars being spent to influence the Feb. 5th election. Almost $75 million has been raised to support and oppose the propositions on Indian Gaming compacts (props 94-97). Click here for more information. Click here for more information about the Feb. 5 ballot.
Help Put CA Voters FIRST! January 15, 2008: The petitions to place the California Voters FIRST initiative are hot off the press! We need your help to gather as many signatures as possible so we can put the initiative on the November ballot and put voters back in charge. To request petitions, please contact JoAnn Fuller at (916) 443-1792 or CA-Info(at)commoncause(dot)org and let her know how many you would like and where to send them. With all of your help we CAN put California Voters FIRST! Click here for more information about the initiative. We Want Better TV News Election Coverage! December 11, 2007: The Sacramento Media Group (SMG) today released its report on local television news coverage of the November 2006 general election. Among the key findings, the report finds that only one local news station met a minimum of 5 minutes per night of election related coverage leading up to voting day and from September 2006 - Election Day in November, the five local broadcasters earned about $32 million in revenues from election related advertising. Click here to read the report and click here for the press release. Click here for more information about the SMG. Support grows for the California Voters FIRST ACT! December 3, 2007: Today Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the League of Women Voters of California endorsed CCC’s California Voters FIRST Act, an initiative that will reform the state's redistricting process to put power back in the hands of Californians. Click here to learn more. Click here for the press release. We need your help to put the California Voters FIRST Act on the November ballot! Click here to fill out our endorsement form and to sign up to gather signatures to place California Voters FIRST on the November 2008 ballot. Click Here to Endorse the California Voters FIRST Initiative! Voters FIRST on a roll! October 24, 2007: The California Voters FIRST initiative is already making a splash in the media. So far, the Sacramento Bee, Los Angeles Times, and KQED are all talking about it! And it's only been 24 hours since we filed! Click here to read all of the media coverage so far. Click here for the California Voters FIRST initiative press release. Real Redistricting Reform WILL Happen! October 23, 2007: California Common Cause announced today that it has joined with AARP and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce to file a redistricting reform initiative with the Attorney General's office. Click here to read the initiativeinitaitve. Click here for a summary of the initiative. CC Report: Ethnic Minorities Do Vote By Mail -- But Only If We Let Them Voters in heavily Latino districts have relatively higher rates of participation in elections that are conducted entirely by mail, but only if election officials actually mail them a ballot, according to an analysis released today by Colorado Common Cause. Thank you San Diego! October 22, 2007: Thanks to all of our supporters and guests at Uncommon Leaders in Common Cause, a California Common Cause welcoming dinner for Common Cause's new national President, Bob Edgar. What Happened to Redistricting Reform? October 15, 2007: Despite promises by our Legislators and pressure from our Governor, the door is closing on the Legislature acting on redistricting reform this year. Click here to learn more about our redistricting reform efforts. Disappointing Legislative Session October 14, 2007: This was a dismal Legislative session for civic engagement and campaign finance reform. The governor vetoed a bill that would have allowed general law cities to vote to implement instant run-off voting and another bill designed to encourage more students to work at precinct polls. And despite all of your hard work, the governor signed AB 1430, a bill that will potentially abolish local regulations designed to limit the financial influence of special interests in local elections. Click here to read our press release. Click here to see a summary and outcome of the bills we tracked. Update, Oct. 10th: It's still not too late to call or email the Governor and ask him to veto AB 1430! Click here to email him or call him at (916) 445-2841. September 20, 2007: Despite all of your calls and emails, AB 1430 narrowly passed through the Senate. Now it's up to the Governor to veto this damaging bill, which removes power from cities to control their own local elections. Please write or call the Governor today and ask him to veto AB 1430. Click here to email him or call him at (916) 445-2841. Please click here to learn more about AB 1430. Pass Redistricting Reform NOW!! September 7, 2007: California Common Cause, with the League of Women Voters of CA and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, urges Legislators to Act on Redistricting Reform NOW! Time is running out for REAL redistricting reform and the Legislature needs to step up and act! Click here to read our joint press statement. Click here to read our letter on the Speaker's current proposal. Governors Push for Redistricting Reform August 23, 2007: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Governors Gray Davis and Pete Wilson met with California Common Cause, members of the Voices of Reform Coalition, the League of Women Voters and others to discuss the need for a redistricting measure to be passed this legislative session. Click here for more information. Stop AB 1430! August 16, 2007: Thank you for calling your state senator and asking him or her to vote no on AB 1430! The Senate is expected to vote on the bill by the end of the month. This bill is designed to gut local campaign finance regulations and pre-empt them with lax state regulations. Click here to learn more. Sweeping Ethics Reforms Passed in Congress Update: President Bush signed this landmark ethics and lobbying reform bill into law on September 14th! CCC responds to review of voting machines August 1, 2007: California Common Cause calls on the Secretary of State not to remove the tested voting machines from use before the February 2008 elections due to decreased accessibility and timing concerns. Click here to read the letter. Click here for more information from the Secretary of State's Office. Update: The Secretary of State decertified each of the systems tested, recertifying them with a number of conditions that must be met before use in the next election. Visit the Secretary of State's Website for more information. Review of CA's Voting Machines July 27, 2007: The University of California completed a two-month top to bottom review of voting systems of three major vendors in California. This included reviews of the software, firmware and hardware for voting machines using optical scan paper ballots as well as direct electronic recording with a voter verifiable paper audit trail (such as touch screens), precinct scanners, and the central count tabulating machines. Please click here for more information from the Secretary of State's office. Please click here to read about it in the Los Angeles Times. Click here to read about the report in the San Diego Union Tribune. Stop AB 1430! July 11, 2007: Thank you for all of your calls and emails asking the Senate Elections Committee to vote no on AB 1430! Unfortunately, the bill passed through and will now be voted on on the Senate Floor. We can still stop this bill! Please call your State Senator and ask them to vote no on AB 1430! Click here to learn more about AB 1430 and how YOU can help stop it from passing! CCC Opposes AB 1430! June 29, 2007: California Common Cause joins with the League of Women Voters of California and the California Clean Money Campaign in opposing AB 1430. This bill would eliminate the ability for cities and counties to control their own elections! Click here to read our joint letter of opposition. Click here to learn more about AB 1430 and how YOU can help stop it from passing! Sacramento Goes Wireless! June 25, 2007: The Sacramento City Council voted last week to approve a deal to bring wireless internet to the city by October, 2009. People within Sacramento will now be able to access the internet in most parts of the city with just a Wi-Fi card and a computer! This success is due to the hard work of CCC and the Sacramento Media Group who have been working with over 30 non-profit organizations to help bring reliable wireless internet to the residents and visitors in Sacramento. Click here to read an article in the Sacramento Bee and click here to read an article in the San Francisco Chronicle. Click here to learn more about CCC's media reform efforts! San Diego Event! June 22, 2007: Please join us for "Campaign Finance Disclosures: How Can Cities Work Together to Inform and Engage Citizens?" to learn more about improving access to campaign contributions at the local level. Dr. Wolber from the University of San Francisco will discuss how cities are using the web to disclose campaign contributions and how they can make the information even more accessible. He will also show you how to find and use campaign finance data from the web. This informative event will take place Saturday, June 30 from 12:00pm - 2:00pm at the Mission Valley Library in San Diego. Click here for more information. Thanks for your calls to Sen. Feinstein! June 21, 2007: Thanks to all of you who called Senator Feinstein and urged her to support the Fair Elections Now Act At yesterday's Rules Committee hearing, Sen. Feinstein seemed to endorse all the reasons why we need a public financing system--corruption, the cost of campaigns and the need to raise huge sums of cash--but wasn't ready to endorse the bill yet. So we still need to keep the pressure on her to join as a cosponsor! Click here to learn more about the bill. Don't Forget to Call Sen. Feinstein by Wednesday! June 18, 2007: It's not too late to call Senate Rules committee Chair Sen. Feinstein at (202) 224-3841 to urge her to support S. 1285 - the Fair Elections Now Act! This important bill will establish a voluntary full public financing system for Senate races. It faces its first vote on Wednesday June 20th, in the Senate Rules committee. Please click here to learn more. Support the Fair Elections Now Act! June 15, 2007: The Fair Elections Now Act (S. 1285; Durbin/Specter) faces its first Congressional hearing on Wed., June 20. This bill will establish a voluntary full public financing system for Senate races. Please call Senate Rules committee Chair Sen. Feinstein at (202) 224-3841 and urge her to support S. 1285. Short and simple is best, for example, “We need to pass S. 1285, the Fair Elections Now Act, to remove the influence of big money on political campaigns, and I'm calling to ask that Senator Feinstein help lead the way by supporting the bill.” Please click here to learn more. Special Election Candidate Forum June 14, 2007: Join California Common Cause on Wednesday, June 20th at 6:30pm to hear from the special election candidates to replace Juanita Millender-McDonald. We are co-sponsoring a candidate forum for Congressional District 37. The forum will take place in Rancho Dominguez. Please click here for more information. June 11, 2007: California Common Cause invites you to attend an evening with Dan Purnell, Executive Director of Oakland's Public Ethics Commission, on Thursday June 14 from 6:30pm - 8:00pm . Dan will discuss the prospects of good government reforms in Oakland. Please click here for more information. State Assembly Passes Clean Money for California! May 31, 2007: Common Cause on Wednesday called on U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to step down from his position as head of the Justice Department immediately. Click here to read the letter to Gonzales from Bob Edgar, president of Common Cause. Click here to read the press release. Click here to Take Action! May 14, 2007: Video of our successful CLEAN MONEY - CLEAN CITIES conference in San Jose is now available online! Click here to watch the different speakers from the conference, including elected officials and experts on campaign finance reform. Click here for a list of materials from the conference and click here to visit the conference's website for more information on the conference. May 8, 2007: With more than one million American homes in jeopardy of foreclosure, Common Cause is taking a look the nearly $210 million spent by the mortgage lending industry on lobbying in Washington and on federal campaign contributions, and its success in blocking Congress from curbing lending abuses that have led to this crisis. Click here to read the report, titled Ask yourself why mortgage foreclosure rates are so high. Click here to read the press release. May 1, 2007: Redistricting Reform is a hot and important topic right now and numerous proposals for drawing district lines exist. California Common Cause does not currently endorse any of the proposals, but we are excited about the debate and are working with the Legislature and the Governor to create the best possible solution. Click here to learn more about the different redistricting reform proposals. April 16, 2007: California Common Cause announces a public forum in San Diego, Saturday, April 21st: "Redistricting Reform: Let's Get it Right!" This forum will discuss important questions surrounding redistricting reform, including how redistricting affects your voting choices and what can be done to ensure self interested elected officials don't carve up communities and cities just to ensure incumbents get reelected. Please click here for more information on this event. Click here to learn more about California Common Cause's redistricting reform efforts. March 8, 2007: It's not too late to register for our CLEAN MONEY - CLEAN CITIES conferences in Pasadena, March 15th and San Jose, March 23rd. These two one day conferences will explore the benefits of publicly-financed campaigns for local elections and how local governments are using clean money systems. Click here to visit the conference's website for more information and to register. March 1, 2007: California Common Cause and our allies have been meeting with members of Congress throughout southern California to educate them and gain their support around an upcoming bill to be introduced in the US House of Representatives next month on Congressional Clean Elections. To read more check out our Clean Elections page at www.commoncause.org/cleanelections Common Cause and allies thank Congress member Henry Waxman for his support of Clean Money and redistricting reform. February 12, 2007: California Common Cause, with the California Clean Money Campaign, announces the CLEAN MONEY - CLEAN CITIES conferences in Pasadena, March 15th and San Jose, March 23rd. These two one day conferences will explore the benefits of publicly-financed campaigns for local elections and how local governments are using clean money systems. Click here to visit the conference's website for more information and to register. CCC's Ned Wigglesworth speaking at the press conference Common Cause Joins Governor Schwarzenegger to Call for Redistricting Reform! November 3, 2006: Earlier this week, Common Cause got several mentions from CNN's Lou Dobbs. The segment below covers both voting security and Clean Elections full public financing, and features an interview from Common Cause's own Mary Boyle. To find out more info on each proposition directly you can also check out the Center for Governmental Studies' Voter Minutes to find straightforward, one to two minute video explanations of the thirteen ballot measures. Voter Minutes concisely present what the arguments are on either side, who are the supporters and opponents, what a “yes” and a “no” vote mean and where to go for more information. In addition, more than 80% of candidates on the ballot for statewide office taped two-minute, unedited candidate statements. October 16, 2006: The Yes on 89 campaign coalition has just started airing its first television ad: (If the embedded video doesn't work when you click on it, try watching it directly at YouTube.) This ad really is something else! It turns the typical political ads that are inundating volunteers on their head. Help us spread the word online by forwarding it to friends. September 17, 2006: The Clean Money Now - Yes on 89 coalition has launched BUCK THE SYSTEM. With just a $5 contribution, you can join the thousands of Californians who help us pass the Clean Money and Fair Elections Act. Why $5? Because under Prop 89, candidates can qualify for public financing of their campaigns by refusing large donations from special interests and instead collecting $5 contributions from voters to demonstrate grassroots support. This levels the playing field so new candidates can win on their ideas, not because of the money they raise. July 5, 2006: The Los Angeles city council took a step closer to adopting full-public financing for municipal campaigns. The 15-member council voted unanimously to draft a measure that could be placed on the March ballot. For more information, visit our Los Angeles page. Can the candidates clean up District 50? Click here to see a news clip from KUSI. Click here for transcripts from the debate. Coalition Letter to Senate Elections Committee (3/15/06) Clean Money Bill Lives Another Day in Senate Committee May 17, 2006: We want to thank all the California Common Cause members who called Senator Perata and the Senate Elections Committee members to urge support for the California Clean Money Bill. The good news is that your calls made a difference in preventing it from being killed outright today. Perata’s staff were overwhelmed by your calls (and postcards, and e-mails, and faxes) – they have felt the power of active and engaged voters!! And now the bad news… the bill was delayed from a scheduled committee vote today because Senator Gloria Romero failed to attend the hearing. Although Senate President pro Tem Don Perata had expressed support for the bill, he was not able to prevent Senator Gloria Romero from skipping the hearing, effectively preventing the bill from passing the Senate Elections Committee. As you know, the bill, AB 583, authored by Assembly member Loni Hancock, would create a voluntary system of publicly-financed elections for legislative and statewide offices, and give Californians a louder voice in Sacramento by making elections about people and ideas, not big donors. It would open the doors to a greater diversity of candidates by leveling the campaign playing field. Californians want Clean Money elections to control the skyrocketing costs of campaigns. We urge the Senate Elections Committee to respond to the wishes of California voters, schedule another hearing, and pass this important bill. In the coming weeks, we will have to come to you to keep the pressure on. The fight isn’t over until we win Clean Money Elections!! The poll, commissioned by California Common Cause, the League of Women Voters and the Rose Institute, with partial funding from the James Irvine Foundation, found strong bipartisan support for an independent redistricting commission. May 2, 2006. House Resolution 9 (HR 9), The Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 (and its companion bill in the Senate, S. 2703) has been introduced in Congress. Bill Status: May 10, 2006. The House Judiciary Committee voted 33-1 to pass H.R. 9 April 25, 2006. Assembly Bill 2974, sponsored by California Common Cause, passed the Assembly Elections Committee 7-0 with bipartisan support. The bill, introduced by Assembly member Lois Wolk, requires disclosure of the money behind "astroturf lobbying", a practice often employed by big-money interests to influence legislative action through television advertising, direct mail and creating "popular" front organizations to support their legislative priorities. Assembly committee approves SACRAMENTO – Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis) today won approval of her legislation to require public disclosure of grassroots “astroturf” lobbying campaigns that attempt to influence legislation through mass media, mail, phone calls, newspaper ads and other organized public relations campaigns funded by special interests. The bill, AB 2794, passed out the Elections and Redistricting Committee on a bipartisan unanimous vote. (...) “For example, under this bill, if the Californians for Apple Pie and Goodness run a TV ad asking the public to contact their legislator to support or oppose a piece of legislation, the public, as well as the press, will be able to go to the Secretary of State and find out just who is paying for the Californians for Apple Pie and Goodness. That’s what most of us would think the law already requires, but unfortunately it does not. It’s time to end this secrecy. “The purpose of this bill is not to restrict grassroots activity, genuine or not, but only to shed more public light on who is behind these paid efforts to influence a legislative vote or administrative action,” concluded Wolk. Theis Finlev of California Common Cause, the sponsor of the bill, testified in support of the measure. “The ability of the public to find out who is financing efforts to influence public policy is vital for the integrity and transparency of our democratic institutions,” said Finlev. “This bill accomplishes exactly that by requiring disclosure of important lobbying activity that is currently going unreported." (continued) Redistricting Reform Bill Passes Elections Committee 3/21/06: Senate Constitutional Amendment 3, a bill to create an independent redistricting commission, passed the Senate Elections Committee and has been referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee. SCA 3 is supported by California Common Cause, CalPIRG, the League of Women Voters, MALDEF, AARP, State Building & Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO and many others. Coalition letter sent to Senate Elections Committee Media Huge Success for Clean Money Jan. 30, 2006. In an historic vote, the California Clean Money bill passed through the Assembly by a vote of 47 to 28. This Clean Money victory marked the first time a public-financing bill has been passed by a floor vote of either house of the California Legislature. The measure now goes to the state Senate for policy and floor hearings. Check this website for regular updates on how to support Clean Money in California as AB 583 moves through the State Senate. Cunningham guilty, resigns San Diego Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham has admitted taking $2.4 million in bribes and resigned from Congress. Thank you to all the Common Cause members who signed our petitions and kept the heat on the Duke. Holding the powerful accountable is impossible without the participation of concerned individuals. Story in San Diego Union Tribune Statement By Randy “Duke” Cunningham I am resigning from the House of Representatives because I’ve compromised the trust of my constituents. For all of this, I am deeply sorry. The truth is -- I broke the law, concealed my conduct, and disgraced my high office. I know that I will forfeit my freedom, my reputation, my worldly possessions, and most importantly, the trust of my friends and family. Some time ago, I asked my lawyers to inform the U.S. Attorney Carol Lam that I would like to plead guilty and begin serving a prison term. Today is the culmination of that process. I will continue to cooperate with the government’s ongoing investigation to the best of my ability. In my life, I have known great joy and great sorrow. And now I know great shame. I learned in Viet Nam that the true measure of a man is how he responds to adversity. I cannot undo what I have done. But I can atone. I am now almost 65 years old and, as I enter the twilight of my life, I intend to use the remaining time that God grants me to make amends. The first step in that journey is to admit fault and apologize. The next step is to face the consequences of my actions like a man. Today, I have taken the first step and, with God’s grace, I will soon take the second. Thank you. Proposition Forum draws packed house at UCLA School of Law In a lead up to the November 8th elections, interest in learning about the 8 propositions was keen amongst members, students and faculty. CCC thanks UCLA School of Law's Public Interest in the Law & Policy Program and League of Women Voters of LA for c-sponsoring the event. CCC also thanks the dozens of members who have requested DVDs of our Oct. 22 proposition forum to show to their neighbors, classes, friends and family. What is the Small Business Action Committee? Who is in the Alliance for a Better California? Who did author Dean Koontz give $100,000 to? ...Pay-dar has the answers. September 13, 2005: Common Cause today called for San Diego Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham to step down from his committee seats in the House of Representatives. In light of the connection between Cunningham's support for a multi-million dollar defense contract to Mitchell Wade, president of MZM Inc., and Wade's purchase of Cunningham's home at a huge personal profit for the congressman, we are calling on Cunningham to relinquish his seats on the Appropriations Subcommittee for Defense and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. In addition, Common Cause called on the House Ethics Committee to investigate whether Representative Cunningham violated House rules by receiving personal compensation from a defense contractor in return for his influence in Congress. FACT SHEET: Representative "Duke" Cunningham's Kickback Controversy. We are also launching an online petition drive demanding Rep. Cunningham give up his seats on the congressional committees related to national security. Please sign the petition and pass it on. Click to learn more about Rep. Cunningham. April 7, 2005: We are pleased to announce the release of our report: “Designer Districts: Safe Seats Tailor Made for Incumbents.” Click here to download the full report. Every ten years, politicians across the country gear up for an intense struggle for their political lives – making certain that the new district lines preserve their own political futures and that of their party. Because the process affects the political life and death of politicians, it is an intensely political and partisan struggle. This battle most often takes place behind closed doors and gets little attention from the press or public until the district maps are revealed. In California, as in many other states, the redistricting process is most often dominated by incumbent officeholders who make deals to preserve their own political turf and ensure years of non-competitive elections. This report shows how redistricting, the re-drawing of political boundaries, is dominated by incumbent officeholders drawing lines to ensure their own re-election. It is a system that does more to protect the interests of incumbents than serve the voters of California. Our analysis of elections since 1982 – covering three redistricting cycles – shows that competition was suppressed when redistricting was in the hands of incumbents in the 1980’s and 2000’s. But after a court-imposed redistricting in 1991, with lines drawn by three retired judges appointed by the California Supreme Court, competition rose in both U.S. House and state legislative races. The numbers tell the story: The increased number of competitive races under an independent redistricting regime assures a significantly greater level of accountability among lawmakers in California. |
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