US House Redistricting: Maryland

[redcommander]

This is a great map for Maryland.  

--Western Marylanders said they wanted a more compact district?  They got it

--P.G. County said they wanted their own district?  They got it

--Baltimore Co.. was split 5 ways, now 3.
--A.A. Co was split 4 ways, now 3.
--Baltimore city is unified into one district.  
--No cross-Chesapeake stretching
--Like communities in Harford and Baltimore Counties are united

--4 Solid Dem, 1 lean Dem, 1 toss up, 2 Solid Republican seats

1 38.7% Obama  59.2% McCain  
2 53.5% Obama  44.2% McCain
3 69.8% Obama
4 92.1% Obama
5 49.4% Obama  48.9% McCain
6 41.1% Obama  56.9% McCain
7 88.0% Obama
8 69.6% Obama

4th ~ 68% black, 7th ~ 65% black

No deviation above +48

Yes in a sane world, that would be the kind of map implemented, but since Republicans have basically been shut out of the debate, it's likely that there will be yet another ugly gerrymander. Maryland should really take to California's example and push for a redistricting commission. In fact, seeing that compact districts would benefit the GOP in Maryland, they should be pushing for a ballot initiative.

[redcommander]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/maryland-politics/post/for-prince-georges-redistricting-prompts-questions-of-identity/2011/07/26/gIQA1pRSbI_blog.html

Black, white, Democrat and Republican, residents of Prince George’s County on Monday delivered a single unifying message to the redistricting commission of Gov. Martin O’Malley (D): Keep a proud county whole.

Don’t slice and dice Prince George’s reliably Democratic population to help elect congressmen from less blue parts of the state, residents said. And to reelect incumbents to Annapolis, don’t carve up natural communities and neighborhoods, limiting residents’ ability to have a representative who fully understands their needs.





That should put an obstacle in front of the Hoyer plan.

I realize you're only programmed for blind partisan hackery, but do you really think that this is going to be an obstacle to the Democrats? Can you point to a single example of one-party control over redistricting being stymied by public outcry? Do you really think the Maryland Democratic Party, who passed one of the most gerrymandered maps in the country last time, is going to think twice this time because some people in one of the most reliably-Democratic counties demanded to be kept together?

The GOP in Washington state in 1980.

And of course West Virginia in 2010.

Another article hints at a 7-1 map, to the dismay of the blind partisan hacks.


http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-western-maryland-redistricting-20110806,0,865855,full.story

Democrats eyeing Western Maryland
In redistricting, they see a chance to challenge Republican Bartlett

Great probably another ugly a$@ gerrymander. Just what the state needs.

[redcommander]

Well O'Malley certainly outdid the 2001 maps in ugliness.

[redcommander]

Seventh-day Adventist as well.

What is wrong with being one?

[redcommander]

Seventh-day Adventist as well.

What is wrong with being one?

When did I say that?

It seemed like you were inferring there was, because the post before yours was talking about all the negatives of Bartlett (Age, under-preforming national Republicans). My apologies for the misunderstanding.

[redcommander]

So since O'Malley's proposal is likely finished now, is there a chance the compact district proposal by Republicans has a chance?

[redcommander]

O'Malley's follow-up map was leaked. Very minor changes.

This what the Baltimore Sun saw:

It looks disgusting. I hope Donna Edwards still has problems with it, because Marylanders shouldn't deserve a gerrymander like that.

[redcommander]

There needs to be a referendum. I can't think of an uglier gerrymander in recent memory. Even the 2001 districts were much better than this.

[redcommander]

Looking back on the discussion made me try a nice, clean, compact map that's also solidly 6-2 Dem:



MD-01 (blue) - 57.2 McCain
MD-02 (green) - 57.2 Obama
MD-03 (purple) - 59.4 Obama
MD-04 (red) - 88.9 Obama, 60.9% black VAP
MD-05 (yellow) - 58.9 Obama
MD-06 (teal) - 55.3 McCain
MD-07 (grey) - 81.2 Obama, 53.7% black VAP
MD-08 (light purple) - 72.4 Obama

JohnnyLongtorso why couldn't O'Malley recruit you for his redistricting commission? Your map is clean, but also maintains the Democrats control on the delegation (Although the GOP could win the MD 2 district if it was an open seat). The main criticism I believe the GOP and activist groups are saying in their lawsuit is that the new maps don't create a third minority majority district.

[redcommander]

Does anyone know how the lawsuit is going to overturn the maps? I heard Republicans had a good shot of getting them thrown out.

[redcommander]

Does anyone know how the lawsuit is going to overturn the maps? I heard Republicans had a good shot of getting them thrown out.

On what basis?

Blatant racial gerrymandering so Democrats could pick up Bartlett's district. Census numbers entitled another minority majority district in the state.

[redcommander]

Ughhh. Great we now have those disgusting lines in place for the rest of the decade.