There appears to be a widening crack in the wall of Democratic Party opposition to redistricting reform.
Recent ballot measures attempting to reform the redistricting process, which creates district boundaries from which candidates run for legislative offices, has often pitted one major political party against the other.
Not this time.
While some Democrats are claiming that Proposition 11, the redistricting reform on the November ballot, is a “Republican power grab,” and the state Democratic Party is officially opposed to Proposition 11, usually faithful donors to Democratic causes are putting up money in support of the measure, reports the San Francisco Chronicle’s John Wildermuth.
The Chronicle lists heavy financial hitters such as John and Ann Doerr, Silicon Valley venture capitalists, Sacramento developer Angelo Tsakopoulos and Los Angeles investor Eli Broad, all of whom have donated large checks to the Democratic Party and the Democratic Central Committee, on board the Prop 11 wagon.
The Proposition 11 effort is co-chaired by former Democratic state controller Steve Westly, who has written about redistricting reform on Fox and Hounds.
Other notable Democratic politicians on board are former Governor Gray Davis and former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg.
The measure also has strong support from good government groups like California Common Cause, which often sides with Democratic positions on bills and issues.
Back in June I wrote on this site that there was a good chance Prop 11 could pass. Democratic spokesman Steve Maviglio commented on my piece that there were a number of reasons that Democrats would soon rally around the No campaign. My comments and Steve’s response are here.
I don’t see that happening, yet. Maybe it will as Election Day gets closer but evidence indicates as more Democrats come aboard the Yes campaign it will be impossible for the No on 11 campaign to make the usual “us versus them” argument.
That’s a good thing because redistricting and fair governance should be debated on merits, not on loyalties to a particular political party.