Redistricting season is upon us and legislatures are beginning to draw up their maps and allow public comments. The Democrats peaked two years too early, and losing everywhere in the 2010 midterms means that the Republicans are in the driver’s seat in way too many states. However, one state, Illinois, offers the Democrats the opportunity to do the same kind of damage to incumbent Republicans as the Republicans are going to do to us in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and many other states. Just reading about how we can screw the Republicans in Illinois makes me uncomfortable. And then another side of me says, “What? Are we going to unilaterally disarm?”
Some states have adopted progressive reforms that allow an independent commission to draw up the maps. The details vary from state to state, but I think we really should be fighting to have independent commissions do the redistricting in all 50 states (even states with only one federal seat in the House have many more in their legislatures). However, in the meantime, we have to fight back in the states where we have the power to do so. Illinois is one of those states. I don’t like it at all, but I’m not stupid.
What state has the best model?
Redistricting aggressively can backfire, as it did for the Republicans in 2006 and 2008. When one side tries to maximize the number of districts they can win, they have to reduce their margins of victories. That strategy of redistricting is why so many congressional seats have come down to razor thin margins.
If they try to maximize their seats with 2010 numbers and we do a better job of turnout in 2008, it could backfire.
Yeah. Unless you’re smart about it. Read the Illinois piece. If anything, he’s wasting votes where we don’t need them.
I’ve always heard good things about how Iowa handles redistricting. I think they have a nonpartisan commission with criteria (including geographic integrity) for drawing up districts, with the legislature having final approval.
Iowa does have a pretty fair process and the proposed map is probably good for Dems.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/iowa-redistricting-proposal-matches-two-pairs-of-in
cumbents-against-each-other/2011/03/31/AFD0euAC_blog.html
Iowa blog that is covering the redistricting.
http://bleedingheartland.com/
The last time the blogosphere pushed this, I think IL specifically said “no, we’re not doing that.”
What’s changed?