Unskewing the Senate by creating new states

[America Needs a 13-6 Progressive SCOTUS]

Basically, the goal of this project is to draw new states to reduce the maximum population per state in the Country, and to reduce the overall population disparities between states. All 50 current states are kept intact wholly inside their current borders, while both DC and Puerto Rico become states in this.

The new states can sometimes cross current state borders in this project.

[Kingpoleon]

I had an idea like this when I was thirteen or fourteen, but, without crossing over into other states - which would be vastly unpopular - you’d have to make every state divisible by ~590,000. That would require splitting California into over 65 states, and New York City alone into almost twenty.

[America Needs a 13-6 Progressive SCOTUS]

I had an idea like this when I was thirteen or fourteen, but, without crossing over into other states - which would be vastly unpopular - you’d have to make every state divisible by ~590,000. That would require splitting California into over 65 states, and New York City alone into almost twenty.

Exact equality is not a concern here. The goal is to substantially reduce the disparity, but I am not concerned about getting precise equality. Also, all the current states would always be kept intact without gaining any territory. Only the new states beyond the 50 that already exist can cross current state borders.

[America Needs a 13-6 Progressive SCOTUS]

The Senate is undemocratic at it's foundation.   The idea of the states themselves being represented in the Federal Government and not the "people of" the states being represented is an antiquated, outdated model going back to fiefdom and feudalism.

The entire system needs to be revamped from the ground up.   Having a smaller body of the legislature (fewer members) is a good thing for things like confirmations and as a check on an over zealous House...but the Senators should not be representing such enormously different groups of people (Wyoming having the same number of Senators as California is a travesty for example).

The goal of this project is based around the premise that creating new states is easier to do within the bounds of the constitution than eliminating the Senate, and with that in mind, some improvement to the system is still better than none.

[Xeuma]

Hi, I made a tool where you can redraw the states by counties (I'm working on a VTD option). You can find it here https://dyslabs.github.io/mapster/

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Hi, I made a tool where you can redraw the states by counties (I'm working on a VTD option). You can find it here https://dyslabs.github.io/mapster/

Cool!

[muon2]

Hi, I made a tool where you can redraw the states by counties (I'm working on a VTD option). You can find it here https://dyslabs.github.io/mapster/

Great tool, but the PVI isn't right. By definition the US as a whole should have a PVI of 0. The PVI is the difference between the Dem/Pub share of the two party vote compared to the country as a whole, averaged over the last two presidential elections.

In 2016 Clinton won 48.02% of the PV to Trump's 45.93%, or 48.02/(48.02+45.93) = .5111 = 51.11% of the two-party vote. By the same calculation in 2012 Obama won 51.97% of the two party vote. The average is 51.54% Dem, which is the baseline for PVI 0.

To apply it, do the same calculation for a state, and I'll use IL as an example. In 2016 Clinton won 59.02% of the two-party vote, and in 2012 Obama won 58.58% of the two-party vote. The average is 58.80%. Now subtract the national percentage, 58.80% - 51.54% = 7.26%. That rounds to 7% so IL is a D+7 state.

By comparison your tool shows IL (if I create it with its 102 counties) as D+16.21, which is much larger than the actual Dem strength.

[Xeuma]

Hi, I made a tool where you can redraw the states by counties (I'm working on a VTD option). You can find it here https://dyslabs.github.io/mapster/

Great tool, but the PVI isn't right. By definition the US as a whole should have a PVI of 0. The PVI is the difference between the Dem/Pub share of the two party vote compared to the country as a whole, averaged over the last two presidential elections.

In 2016 Clinton won 48.02% of the PV to Trump's 45.93%, or 48.02/(48.02+45.93) = .5111 = 51.11% of the two-party vote. By the same calculation in 2012 Obama won 51.97% of the two party vote. The average is 51.54% Dem, which is the baseline for PVI 0.

To apply it, do the same calculation for a state, and I'll use IL as an example. In 2016 Clinton won 59.02% of the two-party vote, and in 2012 Obama won 58.58% of the two-party vote. The average is 58.80%. Now subtract the national percentage, 58.80% - 51.54% = 7.26%. That rounds to 7% so IL is a D+7 state.

By comparison your tool shows IL (if I create it with its 102 counties) as D+16.21, which is much larger than the actual Dem strength.

I knew that! Thanks I'll fix it today.

[America Needs a 13-6 Progressive SCOTUS]

Your vote totals are also inaccurate.

It appears that you basically pulled totals from the kevinhayeswilson tool, which were themselves inaccurate.

[muon2]

Your vote totals are also inaccurate.

It appears that you basically pulled totals from the kevinhayeswilson tool, which were themselves inaccurate.

The best source is of course the election results here at the Atlas. There's a reason it is used by major media outlets.

[muon2]

You should also check the ability to identify and use the small jurisdictions. For example, check all the independent cities in VA; I couldn't hover or click on Lexington VA. Also, be careful with Bedford county, VA. Bedford city was independent in 2012, but consolidated with the county in 2013 and together in 2016, so the vote totals are counted differently in those years.

[America Needs a 13-6 Progressive SCOTUS]

Hi, I made a tool where you can redraw the states by counties (I'm working on a VTD option). You can find it here https://dyslabs.github.io/mapster/

I would recommend you use these totals as provided here:

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/4/8/1755454/-2008-2016-US-Presidential-Election-by-County-all-in-a-single-spreadsheet

They were generated through a 10 hour or so manual scrape of data on altas, and uploaded to google documents. The diarist there forgot to note that Bedford City and County totals were added together as if they were a single geographical unit in both 2008 and 2012. Louisiana results were obtained from the Louisiana Secretary of State website. There was state level estimating for a small number of votes in Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Maine, while there was legislative district level estimating for a small number of votes in Alaska (with help from thecynic who happens to post on atlas). There are more notes in how things were done in the diary that all less worthy of mention.

[Xeuma]

Hi, I made a tool where you can redraw the states by counties (I'm working on a VTD option). You can find it here https://dyslabs.github.io/mapster/

I would recommend you use these totals as provided here:

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/4/8/1755454/-2008-2016-US-Presidential-Election-by-County-all-in-a-single-spreadsheet

They were generated through a 10 hour or so manual scrape of data on altas, and uploaded to google documents. The diarist there forgot to note that Bedford City and County totals were added together as if they were a single geographical unit in both 2008 and 2012. Louisiana results were obtained from the Louisiana Secretary of State website. There was state level estimating for a small number of votes in Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Maine, while there was legislative district level estimating for a small number of votes in Alaska (with help from thecynic who happens to post on atlas). There are more notes in how things were done in the diary that all less worthy of mention.

THANK YOU! I've been looking for something like this forever. That'll be beautiful.

[America Needs a 13-6 Progressive SCOTUS]

Hi, I made a tool where you can redraw the states by counties (I'm working on a VTD option). You can find it here https://dyslabs.github.io/mapster/

I would recommend you use these totals as provided here:

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/4/8/1755454/-2008-2016-US-Presidential-Election-by-County-all-in-a-single-spreadsheet

They were generated through a 10 hour or so manual scrape of data on altas, and uploaded to google documents. The diarist there forgot to note that Bedford City and County totals were added together as if they were a single geographical unit in both 2008 and 2012. Louisiana results were obtained from the Louisiana Secretary of State website. There was state level estimating for a small number of votes in Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Maine, while there was legislative district level estimating for a small number of votes in Alaska (with help from thecynic who happens to post on atlas). There are more notes in how things were done in the diary that all less worthy of mention.

THANK YOU! I've been looking for something like this forever. That'll be beautiful.

Can you please implement these totals into your tool?

[Starry Eyed Jagaloon]

I once started on a project like this, and got this far:

[Adam Griffin]

Hi, I made a tool where you can redraw the states by counties (I'm working on a VTD option). You can find it here https://dyslabs.github.io/mapster/

Excellent stuff! Please keep adding to and improving this.

And you should make a separate thread for this on this board, by the way.

[Xeuma]

Hi, I made a tool where you can redraw the states by counties (I'm working on a VTD option). You can find it here https://dyslabs.github.io/mapster/

Excellent stuff! Please keep adding to and improving this.

And you should make a separate thread for this on this board, by the way.

I will once I add some more features and incorporate the accurate vote totals someone else provided.

[Former President tack50]

Here's a map I made somewhat quickly with the tool Trajan made, trying to make a somewhat neutral map while also keeping populations mostly equal (with a few exceptions). Here's the result:



And the election results:

South Florida (pop 7.0 million): Clinton+17; Obama+17
Central Florida (pop 7.3 million): Trump+4; Romney+0.06
North Florida (pop 6.7 million): Trump+21; Romney+17
Louisiana-Mississippi (pop 7.2 million): Trump+20; Romney+17
Long Island* (pop 7.7 million): Clinton+30; Obama+35
East Maryland-Delaware (pop 6.8 million): Cinton+34; Obama+34
Oklahoma (pop 7.1 million): Trump+39; Romney+37
North Carolina (pop 7.1 million): Clinton+4; Obama+4
West Virginia (pop 7.0 million): Trump+40; Romney+29
Virginia (pop 7.0 million): Clinton+11; Obama+7
Maine-New Hampshire-Vermont-North New York (pop 6.2 million): Clinton+2; Obama+13
Southwest Arizona-Southeast California (pop 7.0 million): Trump+1; Romney+8
South Carolina (pop 6.7 million): Trump+16; Romney+12
New York City-Northeast New Jersey* (pop 6.9 million): Clinton+48; Obama+48
"4 corners" (pop. 6.5 million): Clinton+1; Obama+2
Southwest California (pop 6.3 million): Clinton+13; Romney+2
Los Angeles (pop 10.0 million): Clinton+48; Obama+40
Kansas-Nebraska (Pop 5.4 million): Trump+16; Romney+14
Utah-Wyoming-Idaho (pop 4.0 million): Trump+15; Romney+34
Massachussets-Rhode Island (pop 7.0 million): Clinton+25; Obama+22
Greater Connecticut (6.8 million): Clinton+15; Obama+19
Greater Arkansas-South Missouri (pop 7.0 million): Trump+26; Romney+17
Mega Dakota-Montana (pop 7.0 million): Trump+29; Romney+17
Greater Wisconsin (pop 7.0 million): Trump+3; Obama+6
Greater Iowa (pop 7.1 million): Clinton+3; Obama+9
Chicago (pop 7.1 million): Clinton+41; Obama+35
Illinois (pop 7.0 million): Trump+4; Obama+3
Indiana (pop 7.0 million): Trump+24; Romney+15
Central California (pop 6.5 million): Clinton+10; Obama+7
Georgia (pop 7.0 million): Clinton+3; Romney+2
Alabama (pop 7.0 million): Trump+29; Romney+24
SouthEast Texas (pop 7.0 million): Trump+6; Romney+14
North Texas (pop 6.9 million): Trump+9; Romney+16
South Texas (pop 7.0 million): Clinton+8; Obama+2
West Texas-New Mexico (Pop 5.6 million): Trump+20; Romney+23
San Francisco-Hawaii (pop 6.6 million): Clinton+56; Obama+52
Washington-Alaska (pop 7.0 million): Clinton+19; Obama+17
Oregon-North California (pop 6.8 million): Clinton+10; Obama+11
Inland California (pop 6.8 million): Clinton+19; Obama+14
Greater Detroit (pop 7.0 million): Clinton+6; Obama+17
West Michigan (Pop 7.0 million): Trump+17; Romney+11
Kentucky (pop 6.9 million): Trump+19; Romney+12
Central Pennsylvania (pop 6.6 million): Trump+20; Romney +10
East Ohio-West Pennsylvania (pop 7.2 million): Trump+2; Obama+9
East Pennsylvania-Central New Jersey (pop 5.5 million): Trump+3; Obama+5
Philadelphia-South New Jersey (pop 6.5 million): Clinton+21; Obama+24

*Long Island includes the boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn
*New York City-Northeast New Jersey includes Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island

I think it still benefits republicans slightly though (Clinton only wins 23 states and Obama only ties)

[Former Dean Phillips Supporters for Haley (I guess???!?) 👁️]

Hi, I made a tool where you can redraw the states by counties (I'm working on a VTD option). You can find it here https://dyslabs.github.io/mapster/

Ooh, very cool! Well done!

[Orser67]

Here's another map. I tried to get all the states (other than AK + HI) within 8-9 million, but there are a couple outliers in California. In general, I tried to keep metro areas together, but I got lazier about that outside of the Northeast. In total, there are 7 swing states (PVI between R+5 and D+5), 17 Democratic states, and 14 Republican states.

Northeast:
Northern New England: 8.9 million, D+6. Capital: Syracuse (also contains Buffalo)
Massachusetts: 8.5 million, D+23. Capital: Boston (also contains Providence)
Connecticut: 8.4 million, D+10. Capital: Stamford (also contains Hartford)
New Jersey: 8.2 million, D+12. Capital: Trenton
New York: 8.4 million, D+62. Capital: State coterminous w/city
Philadelphia: 8.9 million, D+17. Capital: Philadelphia
Westsylvania: 8.6 million, R+3. Capital: Pittsburgh (also contains Cleveland)

South:
South Florida: 8.3 million, D+11. Capital: Miami
Central Florida: 8 million, R+2. Capital: Orlando (also contains Tampa)
Georgia: 8.9 million, R+6. Capital: Atlanta (also contains Jacksonville)
Alabama: 8.3 million, R+25. Capital: Montgomery
Louisiana: 8 million, R+21. Capital: Baton Rouge (also contains New Orleans)
North Texas: 8 million, R+18. Capital: Dallas
Houston: 8.2 million, R+15. Capital: Houston
South Texas: 8.1 million, D+7. Capital: Austin (also contains San Antonio)
Tennessee: 8.3 million, R+20. Capital: Nashville (also contains Memphis and Louisville)
Appalachia: 8.9 million, R+36. Capital: Charleston
Carolina: 9 million, R+7. Capital: Charlotte
Virginia: 8.7 million, D+4. Capital: Richmond (also contains Norfolk and Raleigh)
Maryland: 9 million, D+30. Capital: Annapolis (also contains Baltimore and DC)
Oklahoma: 8.4 million, R+27. Capital: Oklahoma City

Midwest
Ohio: 8.1 million, R+10. Capital: Columbus (also contains Cleveland)
Indiana: 8.1 million, R+17. Capital: Indianapolis
Michigan: 8.1 million, D+8. Capital: Detroit
Wisconsin: 8.9 million, D+3. Capital: St. Paul (also contains Minneapolis and Milwaukee)
Illinois: 8.3 million, R+2. Capital: Springfield (also contains Madison)
Chicago: 8.1 million, D+36. Capital: Chicago
Missouri: 8.7 million, R+8. Capital: Jefferson City (also contains St. Louis, Kansas City, and Omaha)

West
Dakota: 8.8 million, R+24. Capital: Boise
Colorado: 8.7 million, R+10. Capital: Boulder (also contains Denver and Salt Lake City)
Arizona: 8 million, R+2. Capital: Phoenix
Washington: 8.8 million, D+20. Capital: Olympia (also contains Seattle and Portland)
Northern California: 8.2 million, D+6. Capital: Sacramento
Bay Area: 7.5 million, D+51. Capital: San Jose (also contains San Francisco and Oakland)
Southern California: 7.5 million, D+3. Capital: Bakersfield
Diego Vegas: 8.1 million, D+8. Capital: Riverside (also contains Las Vegas and San Diego)
Los Angeles: 10 million, D+44. Capital: Los Angeles
Pacifica: 2.1 million, D+37. Capital: Juneau/Honolulu

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Every state is between 5.5 and 6.5 million.
Alaska is part of the Portland state. Hawaii is part of the Sacremento state.

[Calthrina950]

Every state is between 5.5 and 6.5 million.
Alaska is part of the Portland state. Hawaii is part of the Sacremento state.

What would the voting history information for each state look like?

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Every state is between 5.5 and 6.5 million.
Alaska is part of the Portland state. Hawaii is part of the Sacremento state.

What would the voting history information for each state look like?

33 or 34 of them voted for Obama and Clinton.
This is a map that clearly is skewed towards Democrats.

[Calthrina950]

Every state is between 5.5 and 6.5 million.
Alaska is part of the Portland state. Hawaii is part of the Sacremento state.

What would the voting history information for each state look like?

33 or 34 of them voted for Obama and Clinton.
This is a map that clearly is skewed towards Democrats.

I see. If I had to guess, the Trump states on this map would be:

1. Greater Montana
2. Greater Dakota
3. Missouri
4. Kansas-Oklahoma
5. Arkansas-Louisiana-Texas
6. Arizona
7. Northern Alabama-Georgia
8. Tennessee
9. North Florida-Georgia
10. Southern North Carolina
11. Indiana
12. Western Kentucky
13. Eastern Kentucky
14. Appalachia
15. Greater Texas
16. Upper Michigan

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Every state is between 5.5 and 6.5 million.
Alaska is part of the Portland state. Hawaii is part of the Sacremento state.

What would the voting history information for each state look like?

33 or 34 of them voted for Obama and Clinton.
This is a map that clearly is skewed towards Democrats.

I see. If I had to guess, the Trump states on this map would be:

1. Greater Montana
2. Greater Dakota
3. Missouri
4. Kansas-Oklahoma
5. Arkansas-Louisiana-Texas
6. Arizona
7. Northern Alabama-Georgia
8. Tennessee
9. North Florida-Georgia
10. Southern North Carolina
11. Indiana
12. Western Kentucky
13. Eastern Kentucky
14. Appalachia
15. Greater Texas
16. Upper Michigan

The Southern NC state actually voted for Clinton.
You are omitting the state in the Gulf Coast - the one with New Orleans.