Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Paul Mitchell

No. 39 Paul Mitchell

Paul Mitchell, have yourself a year! The Vice President of Political Data, Inc., aka PDI, and the owner of Redistricting Partners, Mitchell’s stock in trade has long been tracking redistricting efforts around the country and helping anxious pols better understand the enormous wealth of information out there. In that regard it made total sense that he would be the one entrusted to create the new maps Dems put together in their effort to counter Donald Trump’s plan to gain more GOP seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. But then came his Top Two Primary Simulator tool, which instantly amplified the possibility of Dems being shut out of the November gubernatorial race to the point it became a daily obsession both in and out of California political circles. (Ask Rusty Hicks how much sleep he lost over that one!) That didn’t happen of course, but even the possibility it could have has led to an effort to repeal the state’s top two jungle primary. Note: He is a regular contributor to Capitol Weekly and is married to Open California board member Jodi Hicks (No. 14).

Updated Aug. 11, 2026