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Republicans likely to abandon referendum on congressional maps

Republicans backing a voter referendum to overturn California’s new congressional maps are on the verge of dropping the effort, sources say.

One reason is a lack of enthusiasm among California’s GOP congressional delegation. One of the newest but most-prominent members of that delegation — Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield — reportedly led those arguing that it wasn’t worth fighting the new maps.

At a recent meeting of the National Republican Campaign Committee, several strategists argued that the statewide referendum wasn’t a good use of campaign resources. And some noted that the congressional maps, drawn by a voter-approved independent commission, are more favorable to Republicans than they would have been under a Democrat-controlled gerrymander.

Meanwhile, a separate ballot effort to toss out the state Senate maps is going forward and raising money, according to sponsors. That group has also filed a lawsuit to block the Senate maps and enjoys strong support from current GOP state senators.

The effort to put the new congressional maps in front of voters was submitted last month and had been cleared for signature gathering, although no committee had been created to raise funds, according to the secretary of state’s office.

There was no formal announcement that the ballot referendum campaign for the congressional districts was abandoned. However, in such cases groups typically elect to cease signature gathering, causing the measure to fail once the deadline is passed. The referendum’s sponsor, Julie Vandermost, and its attorney did not return phone calls seeking comment.

At the recent GOP convention in Los Angeles, there were closed-door discussions about the initiative’s failure to gain traction. That has upset some Republican commentators.

“As someone who has covered California politics for decades, and watched the redistricting process back to the days when the late Congressman Phil Burton emasculated Republican ranks in the house delegation in 1981, it is surprising to me that the Republican House members are not fighting back with more fervor against a lethal plan which could cut as many as six members from their delegation in 2012,” said GOP pundit John Gizzi, who writes for the publication Human Events blog.

Gizzi posted an article about the lack of support for the effort on the Human Events blog on Sunday. There and elsewhere, he’s noted several GOP congressmen who could lose their seats next year. Two prominent members are Reps. Dan Lungren, R-Gold River, and David Dreier, R-San Dimas.

There are other problems, Gizzi added: “Republican Reps. Ed Royce

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