After the once-in-a-decade redistricting process shook up California's political boundaries, Palm Springsa city known for being an LGBTQ havenwill be represented by a member of Congress who has previously voted against marriage equality, according to KCRW.com .
Republican Congressman Ken Calvert, who represents the area, has supported the challenge to former President Donald Trump's presidential election defeat in 2021. While GOP Rep. Mary Bono was previously a political force in the region, some are concerned that Calvert is connected to a new political climate.
"I'm always anxious to work with my friends in Western Riverside County, but the Coachella Valley has a specific identity," said Palm Springs Mayor Lisa Middleton, who is the state's first transgender mayor.
Palm Springs has had a storied LGBTQ legacy for decades. According to Middleton, the LGBTQ community has grown particularly large since the 1980s when many HIV-positive gay men moved into the region. In 2017, the city elected the nation's first entirely LGBTQ City Council.
Interestingly, redistricting also figured in Middleton's political aspirations. According to DesertSun.com, after initially announcing a state Senate run, Middleton will not seek the office this year, as the new legislative districts approved by California's redistricting commission indicate Palm Springs and other valley cities won't hold another Senate election until 2024.
The full article is at www.kcrw.com/news/shows/kcrw-features/palm-springs-lisa-middleton-ken-calvert-redistricting .