Orange County advisory committee rejects member-proposed redistricting map after debate over minority representation

Orange County’s Mid Decennial Redistricting Advisory Committee on Wednesday debated a map submitted by Member Rishi Baga that would redraw the county’s six commission districts into eight and then voted 11–5 to reject the proposal.

Baga presented the map as a compromise that prioritized compactness, use of existing lines, and “minority representation,” saying it was “impossible for us to come up with a map that’s gonna make everyone happy.” He described the plan as creating two Hispanic-majority districts and two Black-plurality districts while preserving the “cores” of existing districts and limiting split precincts.

The committee’s legal adviser, identified in the meeting as Attorney White, summarized the plan’s compliance review and told members the map’s maximum population deviation was 6.69%, under the 10% threshold…