Scott's District Maps Series

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Yup, so my turn.

Basically, the number of apportioned seats will stay the same.  The idea here is to gerrymander two House maps which each max out the number of Republican/Democratic districts.  Per tradition, the default factor in determining who gets each seat will be based on the 2008 election results, unless there's justification for why a seat is not safe for one party even if a candidate won it overwhelmingly (i.e. UT-4).

Others may, of course, contribute.  Please specify which party you're gerrymandering for if you submit a map.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Republican gerrymander for Louisiana:



LA-1 (Blue) - Safe R
58-41 McCain

LA-2 (Green) - Safe R
62-36 McCain

LA-3 (Purple) - Safe R
59-40 McCain

LA-4 (Red) - Safe R
63-35 McCain

LA-5 (Yellow) - Tilt/Lean R
52-46 McCain

(Remember that this would be a district that not only would have voted for McCain, but elected a Republican Congressman who would have likely kept his seat in 2010.)

LA-6 (Teal) - Safe R
57-41 McCain

Republican Map

11 Republicans, 3 Democrats

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

MS-1 (Blue) - Safe R
60-39 McCain

MS-2 (Green) - Likely R
54-45 McCain

MS-3 (Purple) - Likely R
54-45 McCain

MS-4 (Red) - Safe R
57-42 McCain

Republican Map

15 Republicans, 3 Democrats

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

DC doesn't have a congressional district

It has a non-voting congresswoman, which is kinda close.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Republican gerrymander for Arkansas:





AR-1 (Blue) - Safe R
58-39 Obama

AR-2 (Green) - Likely R
54-44 McCain

AR-3 (Purple) - Safe R
63-34 McCain

AR-4 (Red) - Safe R
60-37 McCain

Republican Map

14 Republicans, 3 Democrats

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Republican gerrymander for Alabama:



AL-1 (Blue) - Safe R
61-39 McCain

AL-2 (Green) - Safe R
62-37 McCain

AL-3 (Purple) - Safe R
71-23 McCain

AL-4 (Red) - Safe R
54-45 McCain

AL-5 (Yellow) - Safe R
61-38 McCain

AL-6 (Teal) - Safe R
55-44 McCain

AL-7 (Grey) - Safe R
60-39 McCain

Republican Map

22 Republicans, 3 Democrats

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Democratic gerrymander for Michigan:




MI-1 (Blue) - Lean D
54-44 Obama

MI-2 (Green) - Toss-Up
53-45 Obama

MI-3 (Purple) - Safe D
57-42 Obama

MI-4 (Red) - Lean D
54-44 Obama

MI-5 (Yellow) - Lean D
54-44 Obama

MI-6 (Teal) - Likely D
56-42 Obama

MI-7 (Grey) - Safe D
58-41 Obama

MI-8 (Slate Blue) - Safe D
59-39 Obama

MI-9 (Cyan) - Safe D
68-31 Obama

MI-10 (Pink) - Safe D
81-18 Obama

MI-11 (Charteuse) - Safe D
59-39 Obama

MI-12 (Cornflower Blue) - Safe R
59-40 McCain

MI-13 (Dark Salmon) - Toss-Up
54-44 Obama

MI-14 (Olive) - Toss-Up
52-46 Obama

Democratic Map

13 Democrats, 5 Republicans

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Thanks; I fixed the ratings to more accurately reflect the districts.


Democratic gerrymander for Iowa:



IA-1 (Blue) - Safe R
56-44 McCain

IA-2 (Green) - Safe D
59-42 Obama

IA-3 (Purple) - Lean D
55-43 Obama

IA-4 (Red) - Safe D
60-39 Obama

Democratic Map

16 Democrats, 6 Republicans

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Democratic gerrymander for South Carolina:



SC-1 (Blue) - Safe R
60-40 McCain

SC-2 (Green) - Likely D
55-44 Obama

SC-3 (Purple) - Likely D
55-44 McCain

SC-4 (Red) - Toss-Up
52-47 Obama

SC-5 (Yellow) - Likely D
54-47 Obama

SC-6 (Teal) - Safe R
69-29 McCain
*This one would probably have some legal challenges, as the population deviates 63,845

SC-7 (Grey) - Safe R
67-32 McCain
*This one would also have problems (-58,837 deviation)

Democratic Map

20 Democrats, 9 Republicans

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Democratic gerrymander for Indiana:



IN-1 (Blue) - Safe D
60-40 Obama

IN-2 (Green) - Lean D
53-45 Obama

IN-3 (Purple) - Lean D
53-45 Obama

IN-4 (Red) - Safe R
59-39 McCain

IN-5 (Yellow) - Safe D
68-31 Obama

IN-6 (Teal) - Safe R
61-38 McCain

IN-7 (Grey) - Safe R
60-39 McCain

IN-8 (Slate Blue) - Safe R
56-42 McCain

IN-9 (Cyan) - Likely D
56-43 Obama

Democratic Map

25 Democrats, 13 Republicans

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Democratic gerrymander for Oklahoma:



OK-1 (Blue) - Safe R
71-29 McCain

OK-2 (Green) - Safe R
71-24 McCain

OK-3 (Purple) - Toss-Up
52-48 Obama

OK-4 (Red) - Safe R
68-32 McCain

OK-5 (Yellow) - Safe R
69-31 McCain

Democratic Map

21 Democrats, 14 Republicans


I made a few attempts today at creating an AL gerrymander that has four D seats, but have thus far been unsuccessful.  I know it's doable because I saw a map on a Daily Kos blog one time, but I haven't been able to replicate it.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Democratic gerrymander for Nebraska:



NE-1 (Blue) - Safe R
59-39 McCain

NE-2 (Green) - Safe D
57-42 Obama

NE-3 (Purple) - Safe R
68-30 McCain

Democratic Map

22 Democrats, 16 Republicans

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Republican Map

34 Republicans, 5 Democrats

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Democratic gerrymander for Minnesota:




MN-1 (Blue) - Likely D
54-44 Obama

MN-2 (Green) - Safe D
58-40 Obama

MN-3 (Purple) - Tilt D
53-45 Obama

MN-4 (Red) - Safe D
64-34 Obama

MN-5 (Yellow) - Safe D
58-40 Obama

MN-6 (Teal) - Safe R
56-42 McCain

MN-7 (Grey) - Toss-Up
50-48 McCain
*Seat currently held by Collin Peterson (D)

MN-8 (Slate Blue) - Lean D
55-43 Obama

Democratic Map

29 Democrats, 17 Republicans

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

I tried getting to four districts, then I tried getting to three plus a toss-up district that a Blue Dog could win, but after at least ten attempts I'm done.

Democratic gerrymander for Alabama:



AL-1 (Blue) - Safe R
75-24 McCain

AL-2 (Green) - Safe R
72-21 McCain

AL-3 (Purple) - Tilt D
53-47 Obama

AL-4 (Red) - Safe R
66-33 McCain

AL-5 (Yellow) - Tilt D
53-46 Obama

AL-6 (Teal) - Safe R
76-23 McCain

AL-7 (Grey) - Likely D
57-42 Obama

Democratic Map

32 Democrats, 21 Republicans

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Democratic gerrymander for Kentucky:



KY-1 (Blue) - Tilt D
53-46 Obama

KY-2 (Green) - Safe R
67-31 McCain

KY-3 (Purple) - Safe R
62-37 McCain

KY-4 (Red) - Safe R
66-34 McCain

KY-5 (Yellow) - Likely D
57-42 Obama

KY-6 (Teal)
63-36 McCain

Democratic Map

34 Democrats, 25 Republicans

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Democratic gerrymander for North Carolina:



NC-1 (Blue) - Safe D
64-35 Obama

NC-2 (Green) - Likely D
58-42 Obama

NC-3 (Purple) - Safe R
59-40 McCain

NC-4 (Red) - Likely D (Toss-Up or Lean D w/Jones)
57-43 Obama

NC-5 (Yellow) - Toss-Up (Lean D w/McIntyre)
53-47 Obama

NC-6 (Teal) - Safe R
62-38 McCain

NC-7 (Grey) - Toss-Up
53-46 Obama

NC-8 (Slate Blue) - Safe R
64-35 McCain

NC-9 (Teal) - Safe D
65-34 Obama

NC-10 (Pink) - Safe R
62-37 McCain

NC-11 (Chartreuse) - Likely D
55-46 Obama

NC-12 (Cornflower Blue) - Toss-Up
52-48 Obama

NC-13 (Dark Salmon) - Safe R
62-37 McCain

Democratic Map

39 Democrats, 28 Republicans

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Democratic Map

49 Democrats, 32 Republicans

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Democratic gerrymander for Virginia:



VA-1 (Blue) - Lean D
55-44 Obama

VA-2 (Green) - Lean D
56-44 Obama

VA-3 (Purple) - Safe D
60-40 Obama

VA-4 (Red) - Safe D
63-36 Obama

VA-5 (Yellow) - Likely D
57-42 Obama

VA-6 (Teal) - Lean D
55-44 Obama

VA-7 (Grey) - Likely D
57-42 Obama

VA-8 (Slate Blue) - Safe R
61-37 McCain

VA-9 (Cyan) - Safe R
59-41 McCain

VA-10 (Pink) - Safe D
62-38 Obama

VA-11 (Chartreuse) - Safe R
60-39 McCain

Democratic Map

57 Democrats, 35 Republicans

A few deviation problems here and there, but that's mostly sloppy work on my part and fixing them would not change the rankings.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Democratic gerrymander for Louisiana:



LA-1 (Blue) - Safe R
77-22 McCain

LA-2 (Green) - Lean D
54-45 Obama

LA-3 (Purple) - Safe R
78-20 McCain

LA-4 (Red) - Safe D
62-37 Obama

LA-5 (Yellow) - Lean D
55-44 Obama

LA-6 (Teal) - Safe R
69-29 McCain

Democratic Map

60 Democrats, 38 Republicans

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Republican gerrymander for Pennsylvania:





PA-1 (Blue) - Safe D
88-12 Obama

PA-2 (Green) - Safe D
73-27 Obama

PA-3 (Purple) - Safe D
75-24 Obama

PA-4 (Red) - Toss-Up
54-45 Obama

PA-5 (Yellow) - Likely D
58-41 Obama

PA-6 (Teal) - Likely D
59-40 Obama

PA-7 (Grey) - Safe D
60-38 Obama

PA-8 (Slate Blue) - Lean R
52-47 McCain

PA-9 (Cyan) - Lean R
53-46 McCain

PA-10 (Pink) - Likely R
56-43 McCain

PA-11 (Chartreuse) - Toss-Up
53-46 Obama

PA-12 (Cornflower Blue) - Safe R
57-42 McCain

PA-13 (Salmon) - Likely R
54-45 McCain

PA-14 (Olive) - Safe D
67-32 Obama

PA-15 (Dark Orange) - Tilt R
52-47 McCain

PA-16 (Lime) - Lean R
53-46 McCain

PA-17 (Dark Slate Blue) - Safe R
58-40 McCain

PA-18 (Yellow) - Safe R
57-41 McCain

This map gives the Republicans a 1-seat advantage.  The current PA delegation is 13-5 R, so this is obviously far from an improvement, but I thought it was worth posting for the time it took.  PA's political geography makes it hard for me to gerrymander for either side, though in my experience it's far easier to gerrymander for Democrats.  Republicans would have a best shot at taking CDs 4 and 11, and Democrats could win CDs 8, 9, 16 and 15 in a good year.

Maybe me or someone else can take another whack at it in the future, but for now...

Republican Map

44 Republicans, 13 Democrats

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Republican gerrymander for Kentucky:



KY-1 (Blue) - Likely R
55-44 McCain

KY-2 (Green) - Likely R
55-44 McCain

KY-3 (Purple) - Safe R
61-38 McCain

KY-4 (Red) - Likely R
56-42 McCain

KY-5 (Yellow) - Likely R
57-41 McCain

KY-6 (Teal) - Safe R
61-38 McCain

As you can probably tell, I started by dividing Louisville into three and let the rest of the map Republicanize itself.  My goal was to max out the McCain margins in each district to keep them friendly for Republicans even if they were to become competitive.  Note that Kentucky is one of the few states that swung against the Democrats in 2008.  I expect the state to regain its status as a lean R swing state at some point after Obama's out of office.

Republican Map

50 Republicans, 13 Democrats

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Republican gerrymander for Tennessee:



TN-1 (Blue) - Safe D
81-19 Obama

TN-2 (Green) - Safe R
67-32 McCain

TN-3 (Purple) - Safe R
57-42 McCain

TN-4 (Red) - Safe R
58-41 McCain

TN-5 (Yellow) - Safe R
58-40 McCain

TN-6 (Teal) - Safe R
58-41 McCain

TN-7 (Grey) - Safe R
63-36 McCain

TN-8 (Slate Blue) - Safe R
64-35 McCain

TN-9 (Cyan) - Safe R
66-29 McCain

At first tried creating a map that divides Nashville and Memphis to create a 9-0 map, but that would have left too many districts that some decent Blue Dogs could win in a D wave.

Republican Map

58 Republicans, 14 Democrats

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Democratic gerrymander for Tennessee:



TN-1 (Blue) - Lean D
54-45 Obama

TN-2 (Green) - Toss-Up/Tilt D
53-46 McCain

TN-3 (Purple) - Likely D
56-43 Obama

TN-4 (Red) - Safe D
58-41 Obama

TN-5 (Yellow) - Safe R
67-32 McCain

TN-6 (Teal) - Safe R
68-31 McCain

TN-7 (Grey) - Safe R
64-34 McCain

TN-8 (Slate Blue) - Safe R
68-30 McCain

TN-9 (Cyan) - Safe R
69-29 McCain

Democratic Map

64 Democrats, 43 Republicans

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

This thread hurts my eyes and my soul.

My gerrymanders take no prisoners.