United States Senate Redistricting 2012

[Gass3268]

I’ve been working on this for almost over a year, so I am really happy to finally present it to an audience. Yes I know this would never happen and this is extremely ASB, but isn't that the point of these what-ifs?

United States Senate Redistricting 2011

In the early 2000’s there were rumbles being made in the state houses and governor mansions in larger populated states of the union about how it wasn’t fair that they only got to send two Senators to Washington D.C. while even the smallest populated states also got to send two Senators to the Nations Capitol.

In 2003 a conference was arraigned for the ten highest populated states in the country at the time. This included California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, New Jersey and Georgia. There at this conference, the representatives of these ten states came up with the idea for a constitutional amendment that involve creating 100 Senate regions across the country. Each region would elect one Senator to the United States Senate. A bi-partisan commission would convene for the first time in 2011 after the new Census data came out to create the map. Their goals would be to try to create as fair as a map as possible, create minority-majority seats were it was possible and include Washington D.C. The map would then take effect for the 2012 elections.

After the amendment was released to the public there were mass protests against it from many of the extremely small states like Wyoming, Vermont and Alaska. When the amendment was introduced in the house it passed with flying colors as all of the Representatives from large states voted for the bill. Yet in the Senate it was much harder to get the 67% necessary to approve the amendment. With a little be of arm-twisting and some promises, they were able to over the necessary 67%. The amendment then went to the states were it was immediately passed by the largest 15 states, but getting the other necessary 19 states was a struggles. With the use of threats, rewards and straight up bribes the amendment passed its last state necessary in mid 2004 when Utah state legislature voted in favor.

In 2011 the commission met and they heard from testimony from interested parties from all over the country. Before drawing they decided that each region would have 3 names and a number. One would be after a famous American hero/leader from that region, the second would be the largest city/neighborhood in that region and the third would be a geographical name for the region. They then began drawing the lines and in January of 2012 they released their map.

[Gass3268]

First Senate region should be posted later this afternoon or tonight. I'll first post a little bio on each 100 of the regions, then I'll go back into a timeline format describing the 2012 election cycle.

Also because of the lack of Kerry-Bush numbers in DRA, my PVI is made up by averaging Obama numbers with the Average Dem numbers given by DRA or calculated by me in cases where the average Dem score is absent on DRA. I then take that number and subtract the Obama-Kerry average to get PVI. Not exactly correct, but good enough for me!

[Gass3268]

Region 1: President Franklin Pierce/Manchester/Northeast New England

State Percentage: ME – 43.0%/NH – 42.6/ MA – 14.3
Three Largest Municipalities: 1) Manchester, NH 2) Nashua, NH 3) Lawrence, MA  
Obama: 57.2%
McCain: 43.8%
Democratic Average: 46.5%
Republican Average:  53.5%
Obama Swing: 10.9%
PVI: D+1
White Percentage: 92.4%
Black Percentage: 1.0%
Hispanic Percentage: 3.6%
Asian Percentage: 1.7%
Native American Percentage: 0.4%
Other Percentage: 1.0%
Current Senators: Kelly Ayotte (NH–R), Susan Collins (ME–R), Jeanne Shaheen (NH– D)

[Gass3268]

Region 2: President John Adams/Boston/Massachusetts Bay

State Percentage: MA – 100%
Three Largest Municipalities: 1) Boston, MA 2) Cambridge. MA 3) Quincy, MA
Obama: 66.2%
McCain: 33.8%
Democratic Average: 54.6%
Republican Average: 45.4%
Obama Swing: 11.1
PVI: D+10
White Percentage: 73.6%
Black Percentage: 7.7%
Hispanic Percentage: 8.2%
Asian Percentage: 8.0%
Native American Percentage: 0.1%
Other Percentage: 2.5%
Current Senators:  Scott Brown (MA–R), John Kerry (MA–D)

[Gass3268]

Region 3: Rodger Williams/Providence/ Southeast New England

State Percentage:  MA – 41.2%/RI – 34.1%/CT – 24.7
Three Largest Municipalities: 1) Providence, RI 2) New Bedford, MA 3) Broxton, MA
Obama: 60.7%
McCain: 39.7%
Democratic Average: 53.5%
Republican Average: 46.5%  
Obama Swing: 7.2%
PVI: D+6.5
White Percentage: 84.6%
Black Percentage: 4.1%
Hispanic Percentage: 6.3%
Asian Percentage: 2.3%
Native American Percentage: 0.3%
Other Percentage: 2.5%
Current Senators: Jack Reed (RI–D), Sheldon Whitehouse (RI–D)

[Gass3268]

Region 4: President Calvin Coolidge/Worchester/Central New England

State Percentage: CT – 55.2%/MA – 44.8%  
Three Largest Cities: 1) Worchester, MA 2) Springfield, MA 3) Hartford, CT  
Obama: 62.8%  
McCain: 37.2%
Democratic Average: 52.4%
Republican Average: 47.6%  
Obama Swing: 10.4%  
PVI: D+7
White Percentage: 73.2%
Black Percentage: 8.7%
Hispanic Percentage: 12.3%
Asian Percentage: 4.2%
Native American Percentage: 0.2%
Other Percentage: 1.5%
Current Senators: None

[Gass3268]

Region 5: President Martian Van Buran/Albany/Adirondack and Green Mountains  

State Percentage: NY – 61.8%/ VT – 20.3%/MA – 11.8%/CT – 6.2%
Three Largest Municipalities: 1) Albany, NY 2) Schenectady, NY 3) Troy, NY
Obama: 59.3%
McCain: 40.7%
Democratic Average: 55.8%
Republican Average: 44.2%  
Obama Swing: 3.5%
PVI: D+7
White Percentage: 90.9%
Black Percentage: 3.2%
Hispanic Percentage: 2.8%
Asian Percentage: 1.6%
Native American Percentage: 0.4%
Other Percentage: 1.2%
Current Senators: Kristen Gillibrand (D), Patrick Leahy (D), Bernie Sanders (I)

[Gass3268]

Thoughts, comments, questions, concerns, critiques or praises? 

[SetonHallPirate]

Thoughts, comments, questions, concerns, critiques or praises? 

I like it...it looks awfully similar to my "Alternate Map" scenario, only you're realigning the Senate and not the Electoral College.

[Gass3268]

Thoughts, comments, questions, concerns, critiques or praises? 

I like it...it looks awfully similar to my "Alternate Map" scenario, only you're realigning the Senate and not the Electoral College.

I should actually give you some credit for his actually seeing the light of day. I was almost done with this in May and I got bored with it before I finished it. When I saw your "Alternative Map" scenario it gave me the inspiration to bring my project back and finish it. So thank you!

[SetonHallPirate]

Thoughts, comments, questions, concerns, critiques or praises? 

I like it...it looks awfully similar to my "Alternate Map" scenario, only you're realigning the Senate and not the Electoral College.

I should actually give you some credit for his actually seeing the light of day. I was almost done with this in May and I got bored with it before I finished it. When I saw your "Alternative Map" scenario it gave me the inspiration to bring my project back and finish it. So thank you!

One question...do your Senate districts follow county lines? Just wondering!

[Gass3268]

Thoughts, comments, questions, concerns, critiques or praises? 

I like it...it looks awfully similar to my "Alternate Map" scenario, only you're realigning the Senate and not the Electoral College.

I should actually give you some credit for his actually seeing the light of day. I was almost done with this in May and I got bored with it before I finished it. When I saw your "Alternative Map" scenario it gave me the inspiration to bring my project back and finish it. So thank you!

One question...do your Senate districts follow county lines? Just wondering!

I try to, but they don't always. The best example would be region 4 where I cut through 4 counties in Massachusetts. The goal in that region was to get most of the cities in Central New England into one region. Hope that makes sense. 

[SetonHallPirate]

Thoughts, comments, questions, concerns, critiques or praises? 

I like it...it looks awfully similar to my "Alternate Map" scenario, only you're realigning the Senate and not the Electoral College.

I should actually give you some credit for his actually seeing the light of day. I was almost done with this in May and I got bored with it before I finished it. When I saw your "Alternative Map" scenario it gave me the inspiration to bring my project back and finish it. So thank you!

One question...do your Senate districts follow county lines? Just wondering!

I try to, but they don't always. The best example would be region 4 where I cut through 4 counties in Massachusetts. The goal in that region was to get most of the cities in Central New England into one region. Hope that makes sense. 

Gotcha...I guess it would also be difficult to put Los Angeles County into one district also, as, after all, there are enough people in Los Angeles County for roughly three districts.

[Gass3268]

Thoughts, comments, questions, concerns, critiques or praises? 

I like it...it looks awfully similar to my "Alternate Map" scenario, only you're realigning the Senate and not the Electoral College.

I should actually give you some credit for his actually seeing the light of day. I was almost done with this in May and I got bored with it before I finished it. When I saw your "Alternative Map" scenario it gave me the inspiration to bring my project back and finish it. So thank you!

One question...do your Senate districts follow county lines? Just wondering!

I try to, but they don't always. The best example would be region 4 where I cut through 4 counties in Massachusetts. The goal in that region was to get most of the cities in Central New England into one region. Hope that makes sense. 

Gotcha...I guess it would also be difficult to put Los Angeles County into one district also, as, after all, there are enough people in Los Angeles County for roughly three districts.

Yeah, Los Angeles will come toward the end, but there are 3 full regions in the county and parts of 2 others. All of the regions have 3,087,429 people +/- 1,000 people.

[Gass3268]

Region 6: President Franklin Delano Roosevelt/Yonkers/Lower Hudson River Valley

 
State Percentage: NY – 70.3%/CT – 29.7%  
Three Largest Municipalities: 1) Yonkers, NY 2) Bridgeport, CT 3) Stamford, CT  
Obama: 58.3%
McCain: 41.7%
Democratic Average: 55.9%
Republican Average: 44.1%  
Obama Swing: 2.4%
PVI: D+6.5  
White Percentage: 67.6%
Black Percentage: 10.5%
Hispanic Percentage: 15.9%
Asian Percentage: 4.4%
Native American Percentage: 0.1%
Other Percentage: 1.5%
Current Senators: Richard Blumenthal (CT– D)  

[Gass3268]

Region 7: W.E.D. Du Bois/Bronx/Mouth of the Hudson River

&

Region 8: Alexander Hamilton/Manhattan/Upper New York Bay  

State Percentage: NY – 61.2%/NJ – 38.8%
Three Largest Municipalities: 1) New York City, NY 2) Newark, NJ 3) Jersey City, NJ
Obama: 86.5%  
McCain: 13.5%
Democratic Average: 83.6%
Republican Average: 16.4%
Obama Swing: 2.9%
PVI: D+35.5
White Percentage: 17.6% (Minority Majority Region)
Black Percentage: 28.8%
Hispanic Percentage: 45.2% (Hispanic Plurality)  
Asian Percentage: 6.3%  
Native American Percentage: 0.2%
Other Percentage: 1.9%
Current Senators: Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Bob Menendez (D-NJ)

State Percentage: NY – 95.4%/NJ – 4.6%  
Three Largest Municipalities: 1) New York City, NY 2) Jersey City, NJ 3) Bayonne, NJ
Obama: 70.4%
McCain: 29.6%
Democratic Average: 70.2%
Republican Average: 29.8%  
Obama Swing: 0.2%
PVI: D+20
White Percentage: 64.3%
Black Percentage: 5.3%
Hispanic Percentage: 14.6%
Asian Percentage: 13.9%
Native American Percentage: 0.1%
Other Percentage: 1.8%
Current Senators: Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

Here is a better view of how these two districts look:

Red is Region 7 and Purple is Region 8

[Gass3268]

Region 9: Jackie Robinson/Brooklyn/ Lower New York Bay

State Percentage: NY – 100%
Largest Municipality: 1) New York City, NY
Obama: 85.5%
McCain: 14.5%
Democratic Average: 86.9%
Republican Average: 13.1%  
Obama Swing: -1.4%  
PVI: D+35.5  
White Percentage: 18.7% (Minority Majority Region)
Black Percentage: 35.0% (Black Plurality)
Hispanic Percentage: 25.6%
Asian Percentage: 17.3%
Native American Percentage: 0.2%
Other Percentage: 3.2%
Current Senators: None

Here is a better view of how this district looks:

Green Region 9

[SetonHallPirate]

Region 7: W.E.D. Du Bois/Bronx/Mouth of the Hudson River

&

Region 8: Alexander Hamilton/Manhattan/Upper New York Bay 

State Percentage: NY – 61.2%/NJ – 38.8%
Three Largest Cities: 1) New York City, NY 2) Newark, NJ 3) Jersey City, NJ
Obama: 86.5% 
McCain: 13.5%
Democratic Average: 83.6%
Republican Average: 16.4%
Obama Swing: 2.9%
PVI: D+35.5
White Percentage: 17.6% (Minority Majority Region)
Black Percentage: 28.8%
Hispanic Percentage: 45.2% (Hispanic Plurality)   
Asian Percentage: 6.3% 
Native American Percentage: 0.2%
Other Percentage: 1.9%
Current Senators: Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)

State Percentage: NY – 95.4%/NJ – 4.6%   
Three Largest Cities: 1) New York City, NY 2) Jersey City, NJ 3) Bayonne, NJ
Obama: 70.4%
McCain: 29.6%
Democratic Average: 70.2%
Republican Average: 29.8% 
Obama Swing: 0.2%
PVI: D+20
White Percentage: 64.3%
Black Percentage: 5.3%
Hispanic Percentage: 14.6%
Asian Percentage: 13.9%
Native American Percentage: 0.1%
Other Percentage: 1.8%
Current Senators: Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

Here is a better view of how these two districts look:

Red is Region 7 and Purple is Region 8

Interesting that you're throwing the one Republican part of the immediate New York City metropolitan area, Staten Island, in with reliably-Democrat Manhattan. I think Staten Island would be a better fit with the Jersey Shore, which is more Republican, but that's just me.

[MilesC56]

I like the concept. You should name the Louisiana state after Huey Long!

[Gass3268]

The goal for the New York City regions were to create 2 minority majority districts and 1 white district comprised of just the immediate New York City area. I was trying to keep the city together as much as possible. I was able to make a minority-majority district in just Brooklyn and Queens and another on with the Bronx, Harlem, Newark and other parts of New Jersey. The one white district got the rest of the area (Lower Manhattan, Staten Island, the rest of Brooklyn, the rest of Queens and a sliver of New Jersey).  

[Gass3268]

I like the concept. You should name the Louisiana state after Huey Long!

Thanks for the idea of Huey Long, you'll find what've done in Louisiana pretty interesting!

[OAM]

Ooo, very interesting.  I will be following closely, and hope for an interesting district.  I actually wrote a constitution one time for what I'd ideally have as a form of government in the United States, and it had cross state districts too.  This is the only other example of it I've seen, and mine were only "when absolutely needed", not at every turn.

[SetonHallPirate]

The goal for the New York City regions were to create 2 minority majority districts and 1 white district comprised of just the immediate New York City area. I was trying to keep the city together as much as possible. I was able to make a minority-majority district in just Brooklyn and Queens and another on with the Bronx, Harlem, Newark and other parts of New Jersey. The one white district got the rest of the area (Lower Manhattan, Staten Island, the rest of Brooklyn, the rest of Queens and a sliver of New Jersey).  

Understood...and I take it that blue district will stretch to include most of Long Island.

[Gass3268]

The goal for the New York City regions were to create 2 minority majority districts and 1 white district comprised of just the immediate New York City area. I was trying to keep the city together as much as possible. I was able to make a minority-majority district in just Brooklyn and Queens and another on with the Bronx, Harlem, Newark and other parts of New Jersey. The one white district got the rest of the area (Lower Manhattan, Staten Island, the rest of Brooklyn, the rest of Queens and a sliver of New Jersey).  

Understood...and I take it that blue district will stretch to include most of Long Island.

Yup, that one will come next.

[Gass3268]

Also if anyone wants to see any close ups for any other region or future region, just let me know!