US House Redistricting: Utah

[JohnnyLongtorso]

The only reason Matheson didn't lose this year was because the Republican nominee was a pathetic loser, and Matheson still only ended up winning by 4.5%. A decent candidate would've taken him out.

Here's what I did with Utah:




Splits up Matheson's share of Salt Lake County between a Happy Valley-based district and a district that stretches up to the north. Either way Matheson would be screwed, since he's not known to voters in the north part of the state, and the Happy Valley will not vote for a Democrat ever.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

Philpot didn't raise much money (though he finally got some in the last couple months) and just seemed pretty hapless.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

I suspect one reason why Matheson has hung on is his last name -- remember, his father was Governor in the 80s, so he probably still has some residual goodwill from that. Joe Smith the Mormon Democrat probably couldn't win an open seat in Utah unless it were drawn to pack in every Democrat in Salt Lake County.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

A group headed by former Governor Olene Walker has released four proposals for redistricting:

http://www.utahcitizenscounsel.org/?page_id=325

Every single one cracks Salt Lake City.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

Redistricting session postponed.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

Roll Call came up with the numbers for the proposed map:

UT-01: McCain: 67; Bush: 76
UT-02: McCain: 58; Bush 67
UT-03: McCain: 67; Bush: 76
UT-04: McCain: 56; Bush: 66

[JohnnyLongtorso]

Putting BS Bob on ignore is the quickest step to a more pleasant forum experience.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

So what's worse, a process like Ohio or Illinois where a map is created and passed without any public commentary, or a situation like this where there's the illusion of openness (draw your own maps and submit them for consideration!) but in the end the legislature ignores the strong public sentiment to keep SLC together in one district and instead cracks the map to eliminate Matheson?