Party control over redistricting

[JohnnyLongtorso]

There's a good chance that the remaining Deep South Democratic legislatures will fall pretty soon.

^^^This

I would shift TN and OK to the Blue collumn. IN, OH, PA, MI might fall under complete GOP control as well depending on whether Republican Governor victories can bring in an all GOP legislature. AL might fall, but I am not sure if it will happen in 2010.

The thin Dem majorities in Indiana and Pennsylvania are obviously going to collapse this year, and possibly Ohio as well, assuming Strickland gets washed out. Michigan, on the other hand, has a 66-43 Dem majority (with one Dem vacancy); I doubt it's going to be flipping regardless of how bad the governor's race goes.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

Do any of you think Bob McDonnell will be successful in luring two Virginia Democratic State Senators from their seats into his administration? If he is successful, Republicans will have complete control of redistricting in Virginia.

Nope, that time has passed. McDonnell's cabinet was sworn in the other day, and the time to do that would have been before Marsden won the special election.

Edit: Also, regardless of redistricting, the Democrats are probably not going to hold the Senate after the 2011 elections, because their majority rests on a number of DINOs in very Republican districts. On the flip side, there are no easy Senate targets left for the Democrats.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

On the flip side, there are no easy Senate targets left for the Democrats.

Don't you mean for the Republicans?

I meant, there are no Republican-held Senate seats that would be easy targets.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

The states that have state legislative seats up in 2011 (Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana and New Jersey) will likely have their maps done first. Just as a guess.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

The Dems should be able to reverse several horrenous Republican gerrymanders throughout the U.S.

Hahah. The irony is that Republicans will likely control Pennsylvania,the most "horrendous" Republican gerrymander from 2001.

Don't try to go to virtuous there, buddy.  BOTH parties are offenders.

DEM gerrymandering in Maryland, Massachusetts, Georgia and Illinois was worse.

Illinois was a bipartisan incumbent protection map. Republicans controlled the Illinois Senate up till 2004.