Redistricting Looms Over GOP Efforts to Take Back Statehouses
With midterms fast approaching, most eyes are trained towards Congress and the question of which party will grab a majority of seats. But, as the New York Times
Jul 31, 2020690.8K Shares12.1M Views
With midterms fast approaching, most eyes are trained towards Congress and the question of which party will grab a majority of seats. But, as the New York Times points outtoday, the battle for statehouses around the country may have a far greater lasting effect.
That’s because Republicans, if they manage to seize control of a number of state legislatures and a majority of governor seats in the fall (as they are predictedto do), will have the unique opportunity of presiding over the once-a-decade redistricting process that is slated to occur next year after the results of the 2010 census are finalized. While redistricting is nominally a nonpartisan process, evidence from the past suggeststhat, in practice, it is anything but:
“„Consider Pennsylvania. After population changes in the 2000 census cost the state two of its Congressional seats, the state’s Republican governor and legislature set new, irregularly shaped districts favoring Republicans, setting off a legal battle that went to the United States Supreme Court, which upheld the new districts. Since then, Democrats have taken control of the state’s House and its governorship.
“„Now, on the eve of redistricting, when the state is likely to lose another Congressional seat, the Democratic hold is looking tenuous. The governor, Edward G. Rendell, must leave office because of term limits, and the Republican nominee has been leading in polls in the race to succeed him.
Over at FiveThirtyEight, Nate Silver predictsthat Republicans could be on track to control approximately 30 governor seats, reversing a situation in which 26 seats are currently held by Democrats, 23 by Republicans, and 1 by an Independent. Redistricting, he notes, is always a contentious process, but especially in states expected to lose seats. With fewer seats, during the next election, the surplus of incumbents must compete against each other to stay in office. Further compounding Democrats’ problems is the fact that among the states that are expected to lose seats (like Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania), a Republican nominee for governor is considered a clear favorite in all of them.
Paolo Reyna
Reviewer
Paolo Reyna is a writer and storyteller with a wide range of interests. He graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies.
Paolo enjoys writing about celebrity culture, gaming, visual arts, and events. He has a keen eye for trends in popular culture and an enthusiasm for exploring new ideas. Paolo's writing aims to inform and entertain while providing fresh perspectives on the topics that interest him most.
In his free time, he loves to travel, watch films, read books, and socialize with friends.
Latest Articles
Popular Articles