Russell Yee

In 2020, I became one of 14 members of California’s Citizen Redistricting Commission (CRC), responsible for drawing all of the state election districts (Congressional, State Senate, Assembly, and Board of Equalization, 176 districts total). I had zero political experience but applied because I wanted to do something constructive for our democracy. In December, 2021, we completed all the maps on time and with unanimous votes. These maps are serving California for all its 2021-31 Primary and General (and any Special) elections.

After every U.S. Census, states redraw their election districts to re-equalize populations. In 2008, California citizens, fed up with partisan gerrymandering, voted to approve an independent, citizen redistricting commission. The success of 2008’s Proposition 11 “Voters FIRST Act” was propelled by Kathay Feng of Common Cause, with key advocacy by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Teary parting words from our Chief Counsel, Anthony Pane, June 27, 2023:
I’ve worked, since I became an attorney, for 16 years, with the state. You all . . . working with all of you in this job has been the highlight of 16 years. You’ve renewed my faith in public service. What you’ve accomplished, and what I’ve been able to help all of you accomplish, is a signature achievement that is difficult to replicate—and I don’t mean in its success, I mean in its collaboration, in its honesty, and its transparency. We joked many times about indecision and yet the maps were accomplished. And I also think it’s that willingness to come together, it’s that collaboration and in some ways it’s the flip side of that coin, of that indecision, that actually got the maps done for all of you. And I consider it a real high privilege: I got to help you all to get those maps done. In the 16 years I can say this just doesn’t happen in public service. It just doesn’t. Maybe it will again, but if there’s one thing I can leave all of you with, it’s that—and I don’t think you will–but don’t forget what an amazing achievement this was for all of you. It was really something special, it hasn’t happened very much in the past, but there is something unique to what you all did, versus the 2010 iteration, which will be very different from the 2030 iteration. So, thank you all so much, I won’t say goodbye, I will say “See you soon.” Take care. 

More Pictures
Final Maps
Final Maps Report (PDF)
“Recollections, Recommendations, and Resources” Report (for which I was the co-author)
Commission website
The selection process (from 20,724 applicants to 14 commissioners)
“How I became a Citizen Redistricting Commissioner” (Reclaim magazine)
“Prepared for Good Works” (New College Berkeley blog)
More redistricting links

Inspired by the musical Hamilton, I set out my motivations and hopes:

A Non-Partisan Map Artisan
(Redistricting Rap)

How does a quiet, private, a-political teacher, sometime preacher
     aspire to be a voting district partitioner
–a statewide redistricting commissioner?
Why does he decide to go public with his relations,
     money, work, ideas, and affiliations?
In all his life, never a partisan campaign bumper sticker, lawn sign,
or Facebook endorsement
Raised to lay low, mind his own business
—such was his cultural reinforcement
But now he wants to make the State’s biz his

Why?

Because he saw the need, the moment:
democracy dangling in dysfunction and frustration
Partisan polarization landing body blows on our nation
Here came a chance to make a difference without taking sides
A chance to pour himself into something transcending partisan divides

Back in 2010 the decennial decree gave us the new numbers
And the 2010 Commission went out and heard all comers
Community cares and concerns, stories and priorities
Weighing the words of majorities, pluralities, and minorities
They puzzle pieced the state so the districts equate
No packing, no cracking, the numbers all even
The Voting Rights Act applied and believed in
Of course you must have continguity
And Communities of Interest considered respectfully
Then compactness and then nesting
Part math and part art–so much wrestling!
Commissioners wielding their brushes and palettes
To paint us a picture of equal weight ballots
The new districts survived legal challenges and criticism,
     they won awards and some well-deserved fame
And now today no one can say lay redistricting can’t work:
     it can, it has, and it will again!

So now we summon again this non-partisan superpower
The countdown begins for this redistricting zero hour
And now I’ve become a nonpartisan map artisan
    A remapping practitioner
    A precinct partitioner
I’m now a 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commissioner!

Ten years from now, in two-zero three-oh
It’ll be another decade, Census, time to give this another go.
May we tip a hat trick with a happy sequel
By drawing these lines that help make all our votes equal.
May the third Commission continue to create
     a more perfect union and a more golden State!