California's Redistricting Means New Policital Landscape

California's voting district maps were redrawn and released Friday by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, leaning favorably towards Democrats.

The draft maps of the political boundaries were drawn by an independent panel for the first time in history, by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. Its mission is to keep neighborhoods, ethnic groups, socioeconomic and other groups together regardless of their party, and without any risk to current officeholders.

The new redistricting looks to bring in major changes to the political landscape and bring more seats for Democrats. It has been decades since a single party took over a great majority in both legislative houses.

You're looking at three to five Republican members of Congress that just kind of vanish, said Republican redistricting consultant Matt Rexroad, as reported by LA Times. According to Rexroad, the outlook of Democrats securing two-thirds of both Senate and the Assembly is very much in play.

Republicans aren't the only ones unhappy with the draft maps.

It's not about me or any of my colleagues, said U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, a Democrat. ....They made one continuous congressional district from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border, whereas in the past we had two voices for the people in that area, and now we have one.

I'm hearing from people from one end of the coast to the other who are very upset.

The Commission, however, defends itself saying that this will bring an increase in citizen participation is expected, as well as state and national interest in California politics.

The final draft is expected to be adjusted and finished by August 15 with input from the public. So long as no legal action is taken, the finalized maps will last at least a decade beginning in 2012.