Bill Thomas has been agitating on the side of redistricting for several decades. He is of the belief that if the districts were more competitive we'd elect more RINOs like him to Congress. (I don't believe that, so I'm fine supporting redistricting efforts, when they are written properly).
Costa is Thomas' lapdog and has been involved in several of these redistricting efforts. This isn't the first time a court has thrown one of his initiatives off the ballot after qualification.
Thanks.