Some concerns voiced this afternoon about diversity in the selection of 8 of the state's new 14 redistricting commission.

For those who don't follow the process: CA state auditor's office vetted applications of citizens to draw new congressional and legislative maps in 2021...

Per #Prop11 in 2008, the auditors send 60 names -- 20 Dems, 20 GOP, 20 of neither major party -- to #CALeg leaders, who get to strike 8 names from each group (24 strikes total from the 4 leaders).

One finalist withdrew, so as of this morning, 35 hopefuls were left on the list...

Per intricate rules of #Prop11, eight names are drawn at random (3 Dems, 3 GOP, 2 others). Auditor uses a spinning bingo cage...

But in the pool of 60 semi-finalists, the race/ethnicity numbers were not matched to CA.

About 23% of those semi-finalists identified as Latino or Mexican American... compared to the broader 40% Latino population of the state...

The subgroups were worth noting.

Among Dem semi-finalists, 40% of applicants were Latino. But only 15% of GOP and non-major party applicants were Latino.

So at best, given the mandated party split of those selected, the end result was going to miss the mark...

But the bingo cage produced an even more glaring result: none of the 8 commissioners chosen today are Latino.

3 are Black, 3 are white, 2 identify as Asian or SE Asian ancestry.

The rules state the 8 commissioners must now pick the final 6 out of the remaining semi-finalists...

There will no doubt be intense scrutiny of how these 8 Californians, newly thrust into the role of a citizens commission responsible for redrawing political maps, will choose to address the racial/ethnic makeup of the panel... as well as Qs about geography, class and gender...

This is only the second time CA has asked a panel of citizens (civically minded but not political operatives) to draw maps that have huge implications on policy & politics in CA for a decade.

The final 6 commissioners must be chosen by Aug. 15.

-30-