Redistricting Round-Up June 22
Image courtesy WZZM
Big redistricting news out of Michigan this week as official maps have been introduced in the state legislature and passed out of committee. Meanwhile in Wisconsin, proposed maps have been circulated, and in Ohio money has been appropriated to start the process. Dive deeper into Midwest redistricting news in our Redistricting Roundup for June 22…
MICHIGAN
Redistricting is moving forward in the state of Michigan, as official maps have been introduced and are moving through committees in the state House and state Senate.
Proposed Congressional level maps would see Democratic representatives Sander Levin and Gary Peters’ districts combined into one, with Republican held districts across the state becoming more favorable for the GOP. The proposed state level maps would force 11 incumbent Democrats into primary elections, and only 2 Republicans.
The state Senate has approved the state level maps while the state House has approved congressional level districts. The maps are expected to get a full vote in each chamber by next week. The maps need to be drawn by November 1, and a Republican staffer says that the maps need to be passed now in order to leave time for potential lawsuits.
Common Cause Michigan, League of Women Voters Michigan, and other Network partners have been active in advocating for more time to be allowed in the process and letting the public have a say. Both mLive and the Detroit News point out Network groups in their efforts. For continuous updates on redistricting in Michigan, follow Common Cause Michigan at @commoncausemi.
Detroit Free Press: State Senate panel approves revamped Michigan congressional districts
Detroit News: House panel OKs new congressional districts, pits Levin against Peters
Washington Post: Michigan map highlights GOP redistricting challenges
WISCONSIN
Proposed redistricting maps have come out in Wisconsin, with the maps showing partisan gerrymanders at the Congressional level, according to Democratic representatives, nonpartisan professor Michael McDonald, and Network partners in Make Our Votes Count. Make Our Votes Count has pointed out the shifting of traditionally Republican areas into districts currently held by Republicans, and the same happening for Democratic areas being shifted into Democratic held districts. The Sheboygan Press mentioned Make Our Votes Count in an editorial on the need to keep politics out of the redistricting process.
Sheboygan Press: Editorial: Keep politics out of redistricting
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Redistricting pushes boundaries to help a Republican congressman (blog)
Make Our Votes Count: Reported congressional redistricting plan a cause for concern
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: GOP redistricting plan has Republican Cong. Sean Duffy’s re-election in mind
OHIO
Redistricting is getting started in Ohio, as money has been appropriated for legislative committees to begin their work gathering data and show how they believe maps should be drawn. The state apportionment board, made up of the Governor, Secretary of State and Auditor, and one representative chosen by each of the parties in the state legislature, will be controlled by Republicans 4-1. The panel will begin their work on August 1. Currently, Ohio’s 2012 primary date is set for March 2012, but in order to keep that deadline, redistricting must be finished by September, when normally they would have until October 5. The legislature is considering moving the primary date back to May, 2012. Ohio will be losing two Congressional seats in the upcoming cycle.
Toledo Blade: Funds start process of redrawing state districts
The Daily Record: Ohio primary date dependent on redistricting
