Newly elected Janice Hahn may find trouble in new congressional maps

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The newest member of Congress could be among the most adversely affected by new political maps currently being considered by the state’s redistricting commission.

Democratic Congresswoman-elect Janice Hahn of San Pedro could find herself in a new district that runs along the coast from the South Bay to Malibu, and stretching inland to grab parts of West Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. Much of that district is currently represented by Rep. Henry Waxman. The other option for Hahn is a Long Beach district that has none of her South Bay political base and also includes two other Democratic incumbents -– Reps. Linda Sanchez and Laura Richardson.

Democratic consultant Paul Mitchell, who has been actively monitoring the redistricting process, says Hahn could be “in serious trouble.’

‘She’s losing the seat that she just won,� Mitchell said.

Mitchell says that under new working maps released by the commission this week, the number of Latino seats in Los Angeles is likely to increase, while one of the basin’s three African American congressional seats could disappear.

Meanwhile, criticism, political challenges and legal threats are mounting against the commission as its members continue to tinker with California’s political maps.

This week, Republican state party chairman Tom Del Beccarro charged that “the process intended to provide fair redistricting has been overtaken by partisanship and incompetence.�

-- Anthony York in Sacramento