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Hahn Will Run in New District, May Face Richardson

Democratic Rep. Janice Hahn announced Monday that she will run for re-election in California’s newly drawn 44th district, little of which overlaps with her current district.

Hahn’s San Pedro home is in the new district, and sticking to her home turf is her strongest option under a map that does her no favors. Much of her current district, including nearly all of the coastal area and the population hub of Torrance, was added to the districts of neighboring Democratic incumbents, while the new 44th includes an area of South Los Angeles that is not within her current boundaries.

Hahn is seeking a full term after winning a special election last month, and she is now likely to compete with at least two fellow Democrats, Rep. Laura Richardson and Assemblyman Isadore Hall, for the Los Angeles County district, one of three drawn with significant African-American voting populations.

The announcement came hours after the state’s independent redistricting commission voted to adopt the new lines. Barring a referendum or legal challenge, the map is now firmly in place. At least one other incumbent, Rep. Ken Calvert (R), formally announced his campaign for re-election Monday.

In a news release, the Hahn campaign played up her two decades in the district and her representation of Watts while serving on the Los Angeles City Council. It also emphasized that Hahn lives in the district, unlike Richardson.

Richardson’s 37th district was split between the new 44th and 47th districts, but she has said she will pursue the 44th, which has higher percentages of African-American and Democratic voters than the Long Beach-based 47th.

“I plan to run for California’s new 44th Congressional District because I live in it,” Hahn said in the statement. “I know many of these communities and I understand the issues that affect them. I have fought for, and represented much of this district for well over a decade.”

“I am confident,” she continued, “that my long history of representing the communities of Watts, Wilmington and San Pedro, along with my track record of accomplishments including creating good jobs, helping local businesses thrive, expanding access to healthcare, and increasing and improving public safety will resonate with the residents of the new 44th Congressional District.”

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