In dozens of state Senate and Assembly districts from the Oregon line to the Mexican border, tight and unpredictable races are brewing among both Republicans and Democrats. Despite the reapportionment plan of 2001, designed to assure that almost all districts belong solidly to one party or the other, some hot races will even carry over to the fall.

One classic promises to come in the Palm Springs-area 80th Assembly district, now held by Republican Bonnie Garcia, who will be termed out at year's end. Five Democrats are fighting for their party's nomination there, with the openly gay Cathedral City Councilman Greg Pettis a slight favorite only because four Latino candidates opposing him figure to split the district's large Hispanic vote.

The early line there favors Indio Councilwoman Lupe Ramos Watson for the Republican nomination over Palm Springs Police Chief Gary Jeandron, says Allen Hoffenblum, co-publisher of the California Target Book guide to state elections. Whoever wins in each party, the fall runoff promises to be close in this district designed for a Democrat, but long held by the GOP.

An equally fascinating race is shaping up in the 30th Assembly district covering much of Kings and Kern counties. Democrat Nicole Parra has held that seat for six years. Termed out at year's end, she just might endorse her most recent Republican opponent, Danny Gilmore.

This oddity could come because of a feud between the Parra family and that of state Sen. Dean Florez stemming from a long-age race in which Parra's father was ousted from the Kern County Board of Supervisors. With Fran Florez, Dean's mother, the likely Democratic candidate against Gilmore, Parra says she will neither endorse nor vote for Mrs. Florez. Stay tuned to see whether Parra ends up endorsing a Republican.

Possibly the biggest money battle will come among Republicans in Orange and San Bernardino counties, where wealthy businessman Larry Dick, a member of the Orange County water district board, fights Chino Councilman Curt Hagman for the nomination to succeed the termed-out Bob Huff. Whoever wins will be a shoo-in for election in November in this solidly GOP district.

Much farther north, a Republican battle looms in the second Assembly district, stretching from the Oregon line to the Sacramento suburbs. There, former state Sen. Jim Nielson is trying for a comeback against farmer Charlie Schaupp, who has put up about $100,000 of his own cash. The Republican nomination here is tantamount to election.

Meanwhile, Democrats are targeting the 15th Assembly district in Contra Costa County. A win here could give Democrats control of every legislative seat in the San Francisco Bay area.

Across the Bay, state Sen. Carole Migden faces a strong primary challenge in the strongly Democratic 3rd Senate district, where her challengers are Assemblyman Mark Leno and termed-out former Assemblyman Joe Nation. This is a battle royale within the San Francisco gay community, as both Migden and Leno are longtime gay activists. Nation, who represented the Marin County part of this district for six years, could be the beneficiary of that split.

And these are just a few of the fascinating contests about to unfold. Almost none would be happening if Proposition 93 had passed and folks like Parra and Houston and Levine and Leno and Kuehl could stay in their existing seats.

No wonder campaign consultants woke up with a smile on Feb. 6, the day after the initiative lost.

Thomas D. Elias writes on California politics and other issues. E-mail him at tdelias@aol.com