The ballot measures, up for votes in California and Ohio, are largely the same. Both would take the drawing of congressional districts and state legislative districts out of the control of legislators and put it in the hands of independent commissions.
There's one key difference between California and Ohio, however. In Ohio, Republicans dominate the legislature and the congressional delegation. Non-partisan redistricting would undo their gerrymandered maps and would likely reduce GOP clout in the state. In California, Democrats are in control so the exact opposite is the case.
The predictable result is that Democrats in Ohio support non-partisan redistricting and Republicans oppose it, while the parties' positions are flip-flopped in California. Neither party has a consistent position on the issue and neither particularly cares. Their primary interest is in winning or maintaining power--even if means contradicting their brethren elsewhere.
In this context, it came as something of a surprise that California's Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed the Ohio referendum this week. The Hotline's blog noted his possible political motivations--that he is seeking to project the image of a non-partisan reformer to ensure that the California measure passes. Still, Arnold deserves credit for being willing to take on members of his own party in Ohio.
Likewise, Markos Moulitsas, the "Kos" of Daily Kos and the patriarch of liberal bloggers, offered support for the California referendum. Regardless of the merits of non-partisan redistricting, their consistency on the issue is refreshing.
MORE: Monster Maps (Governing, October 2005)
