Democratic Assemblyman Roger Dickinson said today he will remain in his Sacramento-based Assembly District, and his endorsement from Assembly leadership suggests that fellow Assemblyman Richard Pan is looking elsewhere.
The state's new independent redistricting process placed Dickinson, a North Sacramento resident, in the same new 7th Assembly district as Pan, who lives in Natomas. Both are freshman Democratic lawmakers, and one has to move to avoid an intraparty showdown.
Dickinson's announcement came with endorsements from Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez and Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, as well as Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, who previously held Dickinson's seat.
Two nearby Assembly districts are possible landing spots for Pan because they lack incumbents at the moment - the 9th District that encompasses Elk Grove and South Sacramento; and the 8th District that stretches across eastern Sacramento County from Citrus Heights down to Herald.
A Pan representative was not immediately available to comment.
The new 9th District is more palatable for Democrats with a nearly 14 percentage point registration advantage, according to a map generated by redistricting consultant Matt Rexroad. The 8th District is considered a swing seat, with only a 2.5 percentage point edge for Democrats.
One problem for Pan: Assemblywoman Alyson Huber, an El Dorado Hills Democrat, is also looking for an open seat in the region after her district became significantly more Republican.
Clarified to note that Dickinson has declared his candidacy for the new 7th District, which contains much of his current 9th District.
PHOTO: Assemblyman Roger Dickinson, D-Sacramento listens during a Gov.-elect Jerry Brown session on the budget on Dec. 8, 2010. The Sacramento Bee/Hector Amezcua
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