Had it not been for Southern California, House Democrats would have had a lot less to celebrate on Election Night 2012. Thanks to a new redistricting map and a surge in Latino and other minority voters, Democrats converted an 18-13 advantage in seats to a 22-9 edge in the southern part of the state, accounting for half of their national net pickup of eight seats. And they may not be done yet: after cheating defeat thanks to a quirk in California's new top-two primary system, 31st CD GOP Rep. Gary Miller is by far the most vulnerable House Republican up for reelection in the entire country in 2014. But Republicans also have strong shots to unseat freshman Democratic Reps. Raul Ruiz (CA-36) and Scott Peters (CA-52).In 2012, for the first time since it was admitted to the Union in 1850, California did not gain House seats following the decennial census. But thanks to 2010 voter approval, by 61 percent to 39 percent, of a ballot proposition spearheaded by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the state became the largest laboratory of redistricting reform
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