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Redrawn Congressional districts, a new open primary system, and races pitting Democrat against Democrat promise to make tomorrow’s California primary one of the most interesting in recent memory.

In Los Angeles two long-time congressmen, Brad Sherman and Howard Berman, both Democrats, are fighting for control over the newly drawn 30th district in the San Fernando Valley. The two have raised millions of dollars in a race that has garnered national attention. Listeners may recall our May 15th interview with Green party candidate Michael Powelson who is also running for the seat.

To the south, the race for the new 44th district, which stretches from San Pedro to Watts and encompasses the Port, has pitted 36th district representative Janice Hahn and 37th district representative Laura Richardson, both Democrats, against one another. Hahn, who was just elected to her current post in 2011 after a 10 year stint on the LA City Council, has already secured endorsements from every major newspaper in the area, including the LA Times, as well as an endorsement from the California Democratic Party. Richardson, a former Councilwoman for the City of Long Beach, has seen her reputation tarnished by an ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation over misuse of her legislative staff and is lagging behind her opponent in fundraising.

Meanwhile in Northern California, progressive activist Norman Solomon has waged a competitive campaign for the 2nd District, which stretches from the Bay area to the Oregon Border. Solomon is currently fighting for a second place spot against fellow democrat Stacey Lawson, a Marin based entrepreneur. Former State Assembly member Jared Huffman leads the pack. Additionally, in northern California’s 3rd district covering agriculturally rich areas such as Vacaville, John Garamendi, a former state legislator, state insurance commissioner, and state lieutenant governor, is fighting to save the congressional seat he won in 2009.

Looking to the Senate, Dianne Feinstein also faces re-election this year squaring off against 23 other candidates. Feinstein, who has held office since 1992, has a commanding lead in the polls with 42% of the vote, while her nearest rivals, Republicans Dan Hughes and Elizabeth Emken trail with around 4% each.

GUEST: David Greenwald, writes about California politics at DavisVanguard.org and he is a former editor of the California Progress Report