Councilman DeLong Is Mulling Possible 2012 Congressional Run If Redistricting Line-Drawers Ultimately Create Long Beach-Centered Congressional District

Share this:

(July 14, 2011, 9:45 p.m., updated 10:22 p.m.) -- Councilman Gary DeLong has confirmed to LBReport.com that he is considering a run for Congress in 2012 if the Citizens Redistricting Commission ultimately draws district lines that create a Long Beach-centered Congressional district and he has established a political exploratory committee in connection with a possible run.

The story above was first reported late this afternoon (July 14) by Joe Segura on PressTelegram.com, click here.

The Redistricting Commission is scheduled to release its final redistricting map drafts on July 28 and adopt them by August 15.

Councilman DeLong, reelected to the Council for a second four year term in April 2010 (without a runoff against two challengers) is a Republican. A 2012 Congressional run would be a "free shot" for him; if he didn't prevail, he would still retain his Council seat.

As previously reported by LBReport.com, state Senator Alan Lowenthal (D, LB-Paramount) (who is term limited in Sac'to) has also indicated that he plans to run for a Long Beach area Congressional seat...based on an early released possible redistricting map that indicated a Long Beach-centered Congressional district) (click here).

As noted by LBReport.com, Councilman DeLong and state Senator Lowenthal both criticized -- in similar terms -- a subsequently issued Redistricting Commission "visualization" that indicated Long Beach might be split into three Congressional districts (LBReport.com coverage, click here).

Long Beach had a unified Congressional district, in which former CSULB President Steve Horn, a moderate Republican, won elections from 1992-2000...until a 2001 redistricting by Sac'to Dems moved his district out of Long Beach and split Long Beach between two Congressional districts. From 2001 to the present, roughly 80% of LB has been in a Carson-centered district originally represented by Cong. Juanita Millender-McDonald (Carson-LB), succeeded by Cong. Laura Richardson, with the remaining roughly 20% (southeast LB and shoreline areas) in an OC district represented by Cong. Dana Rohrabacher.

Those 2001 district lines will be replaced by a district(s) drawn by the Citizens Redistricting Commission in the coming weeks, effective in the 2012 Congressional race.

Further to follow on LBReport.com.