California has among the least competitive congressional and state legislative electoral districts in the nation. In 2006, only 7 of the 153 legislative and congressional races were considered competitive.

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A diverse coalition of nonpartisan groups including Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, and AARP hope to take redistricting power out of the hands of politicians with a redistricting initiative on the November 2008 ballot. Proposition 11, also known as California Voters FIRST, creates a 14-member independent redistricting commission responsible for drawing boundaries for the state Assembly, state Senate and the Board of Equalization. Congressional districts would still be drawn by the legislature.

In 2008, the former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez introduced ACA 1 and AB 3069, legislation that would create a "hybrid" redistricting commission consisting both of members selected by judges and by legislators. The commission would draw boundaries for the state Assembly, state Senate and the Board of Equalization, but leave Congressional districts to the legislature.

A comprehensive overview comparing the major redistricting proposals facing California can be found below.

• Redistricting Reform in California: Proposition 11 on the November 2008 California Ballot (2008)
• Overview of California’s Redistricting Reform Proposals (2008)
• Overview of California’s Redistricting Reform Proposals (2007)
• Re–Drawing Lines: A Public Interest Analysis of California’s 2006 Redistricting Reform Proposals (2006)
• California Fair Redistricting Act (2005)
• Drawing Lines: A Public Interest Guide to Real Redistricting Reform (2005)