Latest maps released by Citizen's Redistricting Commission alters Elk Grove, placed in another Assembly geographic area

Proposed California Assembly District maps released today show the City of Elk Grove being shifted significantly from the proposed boundaries unveiled last week.

The latest map drawn by the 2020 California Citizen's Redistricting Commission show Elk Grove in a north-south-oriented area. In the map released last week by the commission, Elk Grove was an eastern panhandle in an east-west oriented district that included much of Solano County, Fairfield, Vacaville, and went as far west as the Bay Area city of Benicia.

The latest iteration for Elk Grove places the city in a district that has far northern borders in the unincorporated Sacramento County Rosemont neighborhood and runs south through eastern San Joaquin County to the Northern Stanislaus city of Riverbank. Along with Elk Grove, the district includes Wilton, Galt, Lodi, Lockeford, Linden, and Escalon but does not include Stockton.

Politically, the previous map was unfavorably viewed by politicians who expressed concern Elk Grove would not be well represented when grouped with the Solano County communities of Fairfield and Vacaville. Additionally, Elk Grove-based politicians running in that district would be at an electoral disadvantage. 

While the current proposed district for Elk Grove more closely resembles the current District 9 boundaries than what was released last week, this map includes more rural areas, some additional suburban area but no urban neighborhoods. Republican candidates generally perform better than Democrats in rural areas and could make the district more competitive.

Last year Assemblymember Jim Cooper easily beat Republican Eric Rigard of Lodi. Rigard, who has declared his Assembly candidacy and so far has no announced Republican challengers could presumably be more competitive in this permeation if he were to make it to the November 2022 general election. 

Last week Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen submitted comments to the commission opposing the initial Assembly boundaries. It is not clear if Singh-Allen was speaking independently or as Elk Grove's official representative on behalf of her four city council members. 

As of this morning, the California State Senate maps have not been released. This afternoon the Commission will meet on Tuesday, November 2, starting at 1 p.m. and can be viewed here.    

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