Republican state senator sam Blakeslee has announced that he does not intend to seek re-election. Blakeslee cited the fact that his 15th state senate district has been redrawn (to the disadvantage of registered republicans). Blakeslee, who has served in the state senate since 2010, said he would reconsider the decision, if the California supreme court suspends the newly-drawn districts, pending Republican-backed litigation. State republicans are seeking to put the districts to a popular vote, and have the old ones used in the meantime. The court is set to take up the matter next week. democratic assemblyman bill monning is running to fill the seat.
