Final Pa. legislative maps approved by redistricting panel, but legal challenges soon

[mikelets456]

HARRISBURG — A state panel Friday approved Pennsylvania’s new legislative district maps, which could substantially alter the balance of power in the General Assembly for the next decade but are likely to be challenged in court by Republicans unhappy with the state House plan.

The Legislative Reapportionment Commission — a five-person panel composed of the top General Assembly leaders and an independent chair — voted 4-1 to approve the maps, with Chair Mark Nordenberg joining the two Democrats and Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Hempfield.

“I believe that we have succeeded by virtually any measure,” said Nordenberg, a former University of Pittsburgh chancellor. “Even if imperfect, these are good maps that are fair, that are responsive to the requirements of the law, and that will serve the interests of the people of Pennsylvania for the next decade.”

https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvan...lenges-likely/

[RockIsland]

As long as Eric Holder approves.

[Dlish]

With balance so close, its an easy election cheat to give Dems total control.

Say goodbye to guns and freedom!

[Walleye Hunter]

I don't know...I can't make much of the map but I have read that both D's and R's don't like it so I'm guessing it must be balanced. I could never figure out why the districts are shaped like Cape Cod and shit but then I read that they are supposed to have equal number of people in them. I don't know if that's fake news or not but at least it's an explanation for it.

[PocketProtector]

Gerrymandering has been the legal way to cheat for decades.

[Walleye Hunter]

Gerrymandering has been the legal way to cheat for decades.

With the pot always calling the kettle black.

[EFK]

Quote from the article:

"The partisan shift also reflects the population changes Pennsylvania experienced over the past decade, with rural areas losing residents and urban and suburban areas in the southeast gaining them."

And therein lies the issue (from my perspective). I feel sadly and unfortunately certain that in years to come - it'll take some time yet, but it will happen - PA is going to go the way of NY, where a couple of pockets of large and left-leaning population control the entire state. There's just no way around it. Areas up here like Bradford and Tioga counties etc. are hemorrhaging people. There's just nothing here to keep the young folks as residents, and more and more properties are bought as vacation or investment property. Meanwhile, those who DO stay are more and more unemployed and end up flashing the Access cards in every store they enter: who do you think THEY are going to vote for?

[Walleye Hunter]

An electoral college within the state is in order.

[KCJones]

I don't know...I can't make much of the map but I have read that both D's and R's don't like it so I'm guessing it must be balanced. I could never figure out why the districts are shaped like Cape Cod and shit but then I read that they are supposed to have equal number of people in them. I don't know if that's fake news or not but at least it's an explanation for it.

There's a site where you can craft your own districts and see how close they are to meeting the requirements - https://davesredistricting.org/maps#state::PA

A while back, I spent an hour or two futzing around with it and IMO it's damned-near impossible. Certainly-so without funky 'cape cod' shape districts.

I'm not excusing the partisan gerrymandered things that were submitted. Just sayin' it ain't so easy to draw up 'fair and balanced' districts as things sit.

Perhaps the real issue is the requirements like all districts be within <0.5% of same population etc. that are really the issue.

[mikelets456]

This is not good guys. The PA Supreme Court is keeping the new district maps. We are screwed as it*s that bad. Senate might hold but the house is likely to flip D. Screw this*the cheating left keeps cheating.