ELECTIONS STATE AND FEDERAL DISTRICTS : Politicians Forced to Campaign Off Familiar Ground : Reapportionment and retirements reshape the ballot for many offices in the area.

Come November, political change will be as inevitable as the post-Thanksgiving sales in many northern Los Angeles County communities.

For the first time in more than a decade, redistricting and retirement have brought new names to the ballot for many state and federal political offices.

Longtime politicians such as Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Los Angeles) and Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman (D-Encino) find themselves campaigning in unfamiliar territory this fall because their comfortable districts were reshaped in response to 1990 census results.

Also seeking reelection in a new San Fernando Valley-based district is Assemblywoman Barbara Friedman (D-Los Angeles), who emerged from the court-ordered reapportionment with no district.

But Assemblyman Tom Bane (D-Tarzana), a fixture in local politics for more than 30 years, opened up a seat for Friedman to vie for when he announced his retirement in the spring. Also retiring after 16 years in the Legislature is state Sen. Ed Davis (R-Santa Clarita).

Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica), who has traditionally drawn support from the Westside, is seeking for the first time to represent a portion of the San Fernando Valley in his bid for a state Senate seat.

In the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys, races in newly created congressional and assembly districts are wide open.

Still, even with the unavoidable changes in leaders, many familiar names also are on the ballot. Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar), Assemblyman Pat Nolan (R-Glendale), Rep. Carlos J. Moorhead (R-Glendale), state Sen. Newton R. Russell (R-Glendale) and Rep. Howard Berman (D-Panorama City) all represent districts that were virtually unchanged by redistricting.

In all, voters in the region will choose among 65 candidates in 17 state and federal jurisdictions.

A district-by-district summary of the races follows.

24th Congressional District

The race between Beilenson, a liberal-to-moderate Democrat, and Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks), a bedrock conservative, has emerged as the most hotly contested race in the region.

For more than a decade, Beilenson, an eight-term congressman and Harvard Law School graduate, has represented parts of the San Fernando Valley. But now he is fighting for his political life in a newly drawn district that includes several Ventura County communities and none of the Westside communities in which he has enjoyed strong support.

McClintock, a five-term assemblyman first elected at age 26, beat eight other candidates in the June primary, after a battle that depleted his political war chest.

Although the district has slightly more registered Democrats than Republicans, it is considered a swing district in which either party could win. John Paul Lindblad of North Hollywood, a Peace and Freedom candidate, also is in the race. Lindblad is a health-care professional.

25th Congressional District

Santa Clarita’s founding mayor, Howard P. (Buck) McKeon defeated five other Republicans to win the GOP nomination in June. After that election, a McKeon victory in the heavily Republican district that includes the conservative Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys seemed assured.

But Ross Perot supporter Rick Pamplin, a Palmdale screenwriter, qualified for the ballot as an independent this month and is giving McKeon a run for his money. Pamplin, who got his name on the ballot by obtaining more than 12,000 voter signatures, has characterized himself as “extremely conservative” on fiscal matters but moderate on social issues.

The Democratic nominee is James H. (Gil) Gilmartin, a Santa Clarita attorney. Also on the ballot are Nancy Lawrence, a Los Angeles political activist who is the Peace and Freedom Party nominee; Charles Wilken, a teacher from Northridge who is affiliated with the Green Party, and Libertarian Peggy L. Christensen of Granada Hills, a cardiac care consultant.

26th Congressional District

Berman, the Democratic incumbent, has represented this district of mainly working-class and minority communities since 1982. He is expected to have little trouble in his reelection bid.

Voter registration in the eastern San Fernando Valley district is tilted toward the Democrats by an almost 2-to-1 margin.

The Republican candidate is Gary Forsch, a conservative businessman from Sun Valley. Other candidates are Peace and Freedom Party nominee Margery Hinds, a Los Angeles medical assistant, and Libertarian Bernard Zimring, a Van Nuys contractor.

27th Congressional District

Reapportionment placed more Democrats, more of the San Fernando Valley and less of the San Gabriel Valley in this district. But its voters remain primarily Republican, and Moorhead, a conservative from Glendale who has represented the area since 1972, is expected to retain his seat.

Democrat Doug Kahn of Glendale, a small-business owner, is fighting an uphill battle against the well-known incumbent.

Also on the ballot are attorney Jesse A. Moorman of Los Angeles, a civil rights attorney who is the Green Party nominee; Libertarian Dennis Decherd of Pasadena, a computer systems analyst, and Margaret L. Edwards of Altadena, the Peace and Freedom Party nominee.

29th Congressional District

Since 1974, powerful Democratic incumbent Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles) has represented this district, which was left largely intact by redistricting.

The district includes every Santa Monica Mountains canyon from Laurel to Nichols and has some of the most valuable real estate in Los Angeles County. Voter registration is heavily Democratic.

Challenging Waxman are attorney Mark A. Robbins of Los Angeles, a Republican; Susan C. Davies, a social worker from Los Angeles who is the Peace and Freedom nominee; Libertarian Felix Tsvi Rogin of Los Angeles, a rabbi and accountant, and David Davis of Hollywood, a Green Party organizer who is running as an independent.

17th State Senate District

The Republican incumbent, state Sen. Don Rogers (R-Bakersfield), lost his district to reapportionment and was forced to move south and run for reelection two years early in an effort to retain his seat in the Legislature.

Rogers’ opponents are Democrat William M. Olenick, a deputy probation officer from Quartz Hill, and Libertarian Fred Heiser of Santa Clarita, an engineer.

The heavily Republican district is spread across four counties--Los Angeles, Kern, Inyo and San Bernardino. It covers a large expanse of sparsely populated desert communities, as well as rapidly urbanizing areas such as Santa Clarita, Palmdale and Lancaster.

19th State Senate District

State Sen. Davis, who is retiring after 16 years in office, may well be succeeded by Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley), who has represented the area in the Legislature since 1980. Wright defeated former Assemblywoman Marian W. La Follette, a Davis ally, in the June primary.

The majority of voters in the primarily Anglo district--only slightly changed by reapportionment--are Republicans, and many of the Democrats vote Republican. In 1988, although only 48% of the voters were registered as Republicans, 61% chose President George Bush. The district covers much of the Santa Clarita Valley, the northwestern San Fernando Valley and eastern Ventura County.

Democrat Henry Phillip Starr, a Bell Canyon attorney, is challenging Wright. Also on the ballot are Charles Najbergier, a registered nurse from Northridge who is the Peace and Freedom party nominee, and Libertarian Richard N. Burns, a Northridge attorney.

21st State Senate District

Reapportionment shifted the district so it now includes portions of the Santa Clarita Valley, as well as Glendale, Burbank, communities in the San Fernando Valley foothills and the eastern San Gabriel Valley. Several central San Gabriel Valley cities are no longer in the district.

But the inclusion of Burbank, Glendale and conservative cities such as San Marino and South Pasadena ensured that the district will continue to be primarily Republican.

State Sen. Russell has represented the area since 1976. His challengers are Democrat Rachel J. Dewey, a Pasadena scientist; Libertarian James R. (Bob) New, a businessman from Glendale, and private investigator Jan B. Tucker of Toluca Lake, the Peace and Freedom candidate.

36th Assembly District

Two Antelope Valley politicians--Lancaster City Councilman Arnie Rodio, a Democrat, and former Palmdale Mayor William J. (Pete) Knight, a Republican--are battling to represent this new district.

The district, which stretches from the Antelope Valley into the Santa Clarita Valley, was pieced together from several other districts during reapportionment. It is heavily Anglo and solidly Republican.

Libertarian Ronald Tisbert, who runs a small business in Palmdale, also is on the ballot.

38th Assembly District

Reapportionment changed the boundaries of the district to include parts of Ventura County as well as communities in the northern San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys.

But it remains a Republican stronghold in which Democrats often vote Republican. In 1988, Bush was the choice of 61% of the voters, although only 49% are registered Republicans.

Incumbent Paula L. Boland, a Granada Hills Republican, got 53% of the vote when she was first elected in 1990. Boland’s challengers in her bid for a second term are Howard Cohen, a Democrat and businessman from Northridge, and Libertarian Devin Cutler, a finance officer from Canoga Park.

39th Assembly District

Largely a blue-collar area with a heavy minority population, this Democratic district was changed only slightly by reapportionment. It includes the communities of Pacoima, San Fernando, Arleta, North Hollywood, Panorama City, Sun Valley and Sylmar.

Katz, the Sylmar incumbent who is considering a run for mayor of Los Angeles next year, has represented the district since 1980. A mayoral try by Katz would leave the field wide open for a minority candidate for his seat.

Republican Nicholas Fitzgerald, a businessman from Panorama City, is opposing Katz in November. Also on the ballot is Libertarian David H. George, an electronics technician from North Hollywood.

40th Assembly District

Veteran Democrat Bane’s retirement, announced on the eve of the deadline for candidates to register for the primary, attracted four Democrats and three Republicans to the race.

Assemblywoman Friedman, a Democrat who had been searching for a new political base after losing her Los Angeles district to reapportionment, and Republican Horace Heidt of North Hollywood, a businessman and son of the late big-band leader of the same name, emerged as the victors.

Also on the ballot in the primarily Democratic district in the central San Fernando Valley are Glenn Bailey, the Green Party nominee, a Reseda educational programs coordinator; Libertarian John Vernon, a businessman from Van Nuys, and Jean K. Glasser, the Peace and Freedom Party candidate and a teacher from Van Nuys.

41st Assembly District

For the next decade at least, upscale communities in western Los Angeles County from Westlake Village to Santa Monica will share a legislator here. The district is seen as a swing district with Democrats outnumbering Republicans by a small percentage.

Democratic Assemblyman Friedman, first elected in 1986, is seeking a fourth term in what is mostly a new district for him. Friedman has a formidable challenger in former Santa Monica Mayor Christine Reed, who shares his pro-environmental views and support for abortion rights. Reed is a board member of the Metropolitan Water District.

Also on the ballot is Libertarian Roy A. Sykes Jr., a business owner from Woodland Hills.

42nd Assembly District

Although reapportionment slightly altered this district’s boundaries, it is still considered a safe seat for the Democrats. It includes the communities of Studio City, Toluca Lake, Universal City and Sherman Oaks in the San Fernando Valley and stretches over the mountains into Beverly Hills, Hollywood, West Hollywood and West Los Angeles.

Assemblyman Burt Margolin, a Los Angeles Democrat, has represented the district since 1980. His main challenger is Republican Robert (Bob) Davis, a West Hollywood contractor.

Also on the ballot are Peace and Freedom Party nominee Timothy Burdick, a Los Angeles office worker, and Libertarian Andrew Rotter, a retired Los Angeles attorney.

43rd Assembly District

This redrawn district now includes more of Los Angeles as well as the Burbank and Glendale areas, but remains a safe Republican district.

GOP Assemblyman Pat Nolan of Glendale, who has represented the district for 14 years, has been the target of a federal investigation since his Sacramento office was raided by the FBI four years ago as part of an undercover sting operation. Nevertheless, he remains an influential leader in the Legislature.

Challenging him are Democrat Elliott Graham of Glendale, a producer, director and photographer; and Libertarian Anthony G. Bajada, a university lecturer from Glendale.

44th Assembly District

Republicans slightly outnumber Democrats in this newly created district in which there is no incumbent. Voters are clustered mainly in Pasadena and other eastern San Gabriel Valley cities, but also are scattered among San Fernando Valley foothill communities.

Both major party candidates who will face each other in November are from Pasadena. They are Democrat Jonathan S. Fuhrman, a business manager, and Republican Bill Hoge, a small business owner.

Also on the ballot is Libertarian Ken Saurenman, a Pasadena contractor.