Redistricting Expert and Resources Available for Journalists

As LA evaluates options for independent redistricting, one of California’s foremost experts on the topic is available for consultation

With growing interest in independent redistricting commissions at the local level, and especially in the City of Los Angeles, California Common Cause is pleased to highlight the California Local Redistricting Project and redistricting expert Nicolas Heidorn as useful resources for journalists researching and writing about local redistricting matters.

What: The California Local Redistricting Project was a joint effort of California Common Cause and the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. It serves as an educational resource on local redistricting laws and best practices. The Project includes a digital library of research and educational materials on redistricting, a database of local redistricting ordinances in California, and considerations and best practices for implementing independent redistricting commissions. It can be accessed online at localredistricting.org.

Who: Nicolas Heidorn, the Founder of the California Local Redistricting Project is available to answer media inquiries on local redistricting. Heidorn’s qualifications on local redistricting matters are extensive. 

• Heidorn is currently authoring a comprehensive report on the 2020-22 local redistricting cycle on behalf of California Common Cause, League of Women Voters of California, Asian Law Caucus, and the ACLU of California. 
• Heidorn was the former Chief Consultant of the California Senate Elections Committee. Prior to that, Heidorn served as the Policy and Legal Director of California Common Cause.
• Heidorn was the lead drafter for the FAIR MAPS Act (Bonta, 2019), which overhauled the rules and processes for local redistricting. He was also the lead drafter of Senate Bill 1108 (Allen, 2016), which authorized all California general law cities and counties to adopt independent redistricting commissions.
• Heidorn was the lead drafter of Sacramento’s Measure L (2016), the charter amendment that created the city of Sacramento’s independent redistricting commission. 

Heidorn received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.A. in government from Claremont McKenna College. He currently runs his own consulting firm, Heidorn Consulting. He can be reached at 510.798.3425 and nick@heidornconsulting.net.