Latest Redistricting Updates:
Connecticut
Connecticut enacted New Congressional District Boundaries, on Feb. 10, when the Connecticut Supreme Court adopted the Court-appointed Special Master’s Redistricting Plan. The Court Appointed Nathaniel Persily, a Political Scientist, on Dec. 23, 2021. He submitted his proposed Redistricting Plan to the Court on Jan. 18.
The State Supreme Court assumed Control over Connecticut's Congressional Redistricting on Dec. 21, 2021, after the State Reapportionment Commission Failed to complete the process after the Court had extended its Deadline to that date.
Under State Law, the Reapportionment Commission took over Congressional Redistricting after the State’s Reapportionment Committee Failed to meet its Statutory Sept. 15, 2021, Deadline due to Delays in the Release of Census Data.
In the adopted Plan, Three of the Five Districts are solidly Democratic, but the 2nd and the 5th are Competitive, while leaning Democratic. Republicans have carried those Districts in Statewide Races, including the 2018 Gubernatorial Election.
Kansas
Kansas enacted New Congressional District Boundaries on Feb. 9, when the Legislature Overrode Gov. Laura Kelly's (D) Veto of the Legislature’s Redistricting Plan.
The Congressional District Plan, Politically hurts the State’s only Democrat in Congress, likely plunging Kansas into a National Legal brawl amid the Contest for Control of the U.S. House.
The Kansas House of Representatives Overrode Kelly’s Veto 85-37. Thirty-Six Democrats and One Republican Voted against Overriding the Veto, while Only Republicans Voted to keep the Veto. The Senate Overrode Kelly’s Veto 27-11 on Feb. 8 along Party Lines.
Minnesota
Minnesota enacted New Congressional and Legislative District Boundaries on Feb. 15, when a Special Judicial Redistricting Panel issued an Order adopting Final Maps.
In its Unanimous Order, the Panel wrote, "To afford counties and municipalities time to complete local redistricting, the statutory deadline for completing congressional and legislative redistricting is '25 weeks before the state primary election in the year ending in two.' In this decennium, that date is February 15, 2022. That date has arrived, and the legislature has not yet enacted a congressional redistricting plan. To avoid delaying the electoral process, the panel must now act."
Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice, Lorie Gildea, established the Five-Judge Special Redistricting Panel last year to hear Legal Challenges regarding Redistricting and adopt Maps should the Legislature Not agree on them.
The Panel consisted of Two State Court of Appeals Justices and Three State District Court Judges. Republican Governors originally appointed Two of the Five Judges, Democratic Governors originally appointed Two, and former Gov. Jesse Ventura (Reform) originally appointed One Justice.
After the Panel issued its Order, the impacts of the New Maps weren’t immediately clear. Since Minnesota averted Losing a Congressional Seat, the State’s Eight Districts for U.S. House Members don’t appear jarringly different from Current Maps. This is the Fifth Redistricting Cycle in a row that State Courts have Drawn the Maps in Minnesota.
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission Voted 4-1 to enact New State Legislative Districts on Feb. 4.
House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-171st District) voted No, while Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward (R-39th District), State Rep. Joanna McClinton (D-191st District), State Sen. Jay Costa (D-43rd District), and Reapportionment Commission Chairman Mark Nordenberg Voted Yes.
The Five-Member Pennsylvania Reapportionment Commission has existed since 1968. The Majority and Minority Leaders of the State House and Senate appoint Four Members, who then appoint the Fifth. However, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court appointed Nordenberg, a Law Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, after the Four other Members Deadlocked on a Fifth Member.
Washington
The Washington State Senate Approved an Amended Version of the Washington State Redistricting Commission’s Map Proposal on Feb. 8.
In Washington, a Five-Member Commission, established in a 1983 Amendment to the State Constitution, draws Congressional and State Legislative District Boundaries. The Majority and Minority Leaders of the Washington State Senate and Washington House of Representatives each Appoint One Registered Voter to the Commission. These Four Commissioners appoint a Fifth, Non-Voting Member to serve as the Commission's Chair.
The Commission announced on Nov. 16 that it had Missed its Deadline to produce New Maps. Following State Law, the Commission then submitted Plans to the Washington Supreme Court for consideration. The Court accepted the Commission’s Final Map drafts, Ruling that it had substantially Complied with the Deadline.
The State House of Representatives Approved the Final Proposal on Feb. 2 in an 88-7 Vote, and the State Senate Approved the Plan on 35-14 on Feb. 8.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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