New governors in Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio to play pivotal role in redistricting

This year’s 37 gubernatorial races have taken financial priority to both Republicans and Democrats this political season, which could define future redistricting efforts  in Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio,  Wisconsin, Iowa and Pennsylvania, according to a New York Times article.

The Republican Governors Association has raised $28 million halfway through this year, more than its entire 2006 election budget. After spending $11 million on campaign so far this year, the RGA’s current reserves sit comfortably at $40 million.

The Democratic Governors Association plans to spend more than three times what they normally spend at $50 million.

President Barack Obama has also helped in fundraising. He plans to visit Wisconsin and Ohio this week, and has sent other staff members –  including the vice president – four other times this year.

“Looking through the scope of national politics, I would make the case that the governors’ races this year are as important as the federal races, if not more important,” said Nick Ayers, the executive director of the Republican Governors Association.

Tom Emmer, a Republican candidate for governor in Minnesota called the current races for governor a “10-year election.” And as Midwestern states such as Minnesota stand the chance to lose cogressional seats, the importance of who will be given the opportunity to redraw the disticts becomes key.

“If the Democrats win the governor’s office, they will be in charge of redistricting Minnesota, and you can almost guarantee that they will try to squeeze out Michele Bachmann’s Congressional district in that equation,” Emmer said in the article.

Democrats are so focused on the redistricting fight ahead they have created Project Surge (for Stop Republican Gerrymandering), a small donor fund-raising program targeted towards the future redistricting process.