Republicans stand to lose critical seats to Democrats under the Senate maps because of the states shifting demographics, giving Democrats a better chance of reaching the critical two-thirds majority in the Senate. Democrats hold 25 of the 40 seats in the upper chamber and need two more to hit the tax-vote threshold.
The last time one party held a two-thirds majority in one house of the Legislature was after the 1976 election, when Democrats controlled the Assembly. In the Senate, it was 1965, when Democrats had a 27-13 majority, according to E. Dotson Wilson, the chief clerk in the Assembly.
The maps have put several GOP lawmakers on defense. State Sen. Sam Blakeslee frocalifornia coastline mapm San Luis Obispo has indicated he isnt likely to run again because his Central Coast district now leans Democratic. Sen. Tom Berryhill of Modesto is an incumbent whose seat looks difficult to win. And Assemblyman Jeff Miller of Corona appears to have a difficult fight after he announced he would seek a Senate seat.
If Democrats achieve that threshold, they would be able to approve tax increases without Republican support in one house of the Legislature. The independently drawn legislative districts and a new primary system were designed to vor more moderate candidates, theoretically leading to more bipartisanship in both houses of the Legislature.
&151; The California Supreme Court on Friday upheld a new political map drawn by the states independent redistricting commission in a ruling that gives Democrats their long-awaited opportunity to control two-thirds of a legislative chamber, the threshold needed to pass tax increases.
Im not sure I could be more concerned,[adult school] el camino college Sporting highlights of 2011 (0) 2011-12-27 14:52:8 which is why I made the decision, over the objection of some people in this town, to pursue the referendum when it came to the Senate, California Republican Party Chairman Tom Del Beccaro said this week.
CalifoCalifornia court OKs redrawn political boundaries california coastline maprnia court OKs redrawn political boundaries california coastline map,The high court announced its unanimous decision that the Senate map drawn last year by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission should be used in the June primary and November general election, even though a Republican-backed referendum challenging the map is expected to qualify for the ballot.
Democratic political strategists cheered the Supreme Courts decision, but Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, said lawmakers have a lot of work ahead of them this year and voters will be looking for results.
Republicans, who challenged the map in a fight to maintain their influence in the Legislature, were dealt a major blow: No party has controlled two-thirds of either the Senate or Assembly since voters passed Proposition 13 in 1978 to raise the threshold for tax increases.
