"Will Rogers phenomenon" state redistricting challenge

[minionofmidas]

It shouldn't be hard to find a country in western Colorado that would make both Utah and Colorado more Democratic.

There are three such counties that border Utah, but interesting the other five are all more Republican than Utah was in 2008. Colorado is kind of tricky to do this with since nearly all of its counties that border other states are Republican strongholds.

Though moving Conejos (and a chain of Alamosa, Huerfano and Pueblo... each does alright individually) to New Mexico makes both states marginally more Republican.

[minionofmidas]

Clark and/or Washoe to California.

Riverside and/or SB to Arizona.

There's only one such county (Hidalgo) on either side of the NM-AZ line.

[minionofmidas]

give the Clovis/Hobbs/Portales part of NM back to TX.

I doubt that would make TX more Democratic.

Indeed, there's no whole county along that line on the NM side that works. Though moving Reeves or Hudspeth County to New Mexico would make both states more Republican. (Moving Hudspeth would also split Texas in two.)

[minionofmidas]

I have an example!

Moving Berkley and Jefferson counties from WV to VA makes them both redder.

The 2 counties, combined, gave McCain 53.2% of the two-party vote to Obama's 46.8.

Before moving them, Obama's statewide share of the two-party vote in WV is 43.3%; without Jefferson and Berkley, it goes down to 43.0%.

In VA, Obama's two-party vote subsequently declines from 53.18% to 53.08%.

You don't need to calculate the exact results. If a county on the state line is has a result between that of the state it's in and that of the state it borders, it's a valid example.

Pretty obvious that there'd be many.

[minionofmidas]

I have an example!

Moving Berkley and Jefferson counties from WV to VA makes them both redder.

The 2 counties, combined, gave McCain 53.2% of the two-party vote to Obama's 46.8.

Before moving them, Obama's statewide share of the two-party vote in WV is 43.3%; without Jefferson and Berkley, it goes down to 43.0%.

In VA, Obama's two-party vote subsequently declines from 53.18% to 53.08%.

You don't need to calculate the exact results. If a county on the state line is has a result between that of the state it's in and that of the state it borders, it's a valid example.

Pretty obvious that there'd be many.

Well, excuse me for going the extra mile!

Oh, nothing wrong with that, of course... especially if the counties are large enough to have a major / interesting effect (what's the result for Nevada minus Clark and Washoe?) Just pointing out you don't need it to doublecheck.

[minionofmidas]

I'm pretty sure moving Coös County

I learned something new today.

[minionofmidas]

I'm pretty sure moving Coös County

I learned something new today.

That there's a US county with an umlaut in its name?

That it doesn't rhyme with lose.

[minionofmidas]

I'm pretty sure moving Coös County

I learned something new today.

That there's a US county with an umlaut in its name?

That it doesn't rhyme with lose.

Be reassured that Montague doesrhyme with vague.

(googles)... Montague, Texas, that is.

You know, you actually scared me for a second there.