
In this episode we want to go over California's complex history with redistricting, detailing a journey from partisan gerrymandering in the 1980s to a period of bipartisan incumbent protection in the 2000s. This evolution ultimately led to the establishment of the independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission (CCRC) through voter initiatives like Propositions 11 and 20. The article then describes the CCRC's structure, its nonpartisan criteria for drawing maps, and its success in creating more competitive districts. Finally, it highlights a current challenge to the CCRC's authority posed by the "Election Rigging Response Act" (Proposition 50), a legislative effort aiming to temporarily restore redistricting power to the state legislature in response to national partisan dynamics.