PALMDALE, Calif.—Redistricting stirred up controversy among party members on both sides statewide. And when the deadline for comments on the final drawing of new congressional, state assembly and senate as well as board of equalization district lines came due, the controversy did not change. 

However, in the Antelope Valley, Republicans seemed content, while the other side does not see the benefit of the new lines.

Democratic leader and chairman of the California African American Caucus, Darren Parker, warned that the new lines diminished the opportunity for diversity in various political positions.

He explained that with the new lines there would be a disproportion in regard to representation.

“We ended up with the short end of the stick,” he said, explaining that everything from votes to equal representation—Democrat versus Republican voter—was being impacted because of the new lines.

Parker explained that before the redistricting talks began, the Democratic party statewide, which encompasses a large number of minority voters, was well matched in political battles against Republicans. But with the possible new lines in the AV, the number of Republican majority districts seemed to outnumber the Democratic voters.

“The only race that would be close to a viable race would be the senate race, where the (voter registration) difference is four percentage points. It was two points before the redraw. But the congressional race is an eight-point difference and seems almost like an unwinnable race.”

Further, the political leader pointed out that the original intent of the new lines was to produce better representation. However, he believes the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, which is responsible for the new lines, missed the point.

The commission was mandated to draw district lines to preserve communities of interest, absent of political affiliations or interest, but Parker believes the new lines violate that rule.

“The original intent and mission was in fact to draw the lines along communities of interest. What we have seen in the final product is that the lines are drawn by political (interests),” Parker said.

The African American community and communities of color in general now face greater political challenges, according to the Democrat’s analysis. He explained that new lines could make electing a candidate of interest more difficult.

The overall Black population in the Antelope Valley has steadily increased over the past 10 years, invoking a need for more diverse representation. On the local level, diversity has begun to be seen among officials on school boards and other citywide positions.