The Redistricting Process shows No signs of Slowing Down as we head toward the End of the year.
Alaska
The Cities of Skagway and Valdez, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, and Three Anchorage Residents, filed Four Lawsuits Challenging Alaska's Legislative Redistricting Plan. The Deadline to File Challenges was Dec. 10. All Four Lawsuits Request the Alaska Redistricting Board, Revise its Nov. 10 Map.
Three of the Challenges allege the Redistricting Plan does Not adhere to the State’s Requirement that Each District contains an “integrated socio-economic area." The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Lawsuit contends that Each of the Borough’s State House Districts is Overpopulated and Dilutes the Borough’s Votes.
Alaska has had a Five-Member Independent Redistricting Commission since 1998. Two Commissioners are Appointed by the Governor, One by the State Senate Majority Leader, One by the State House Majority Leader, and One by the Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court. The Commission Voted 3-2 to approve the Maps. The Three Republican-appointed Members Voted in Favor of the Maps, while the Two Independent Members Voted Against.
Connecticut
On Dec. 9, the Connecticut Supreme Court Granted the State Reapportionment Commission’s Petition to Extend the Deadline for Congressional Redistricting to Dec. 21. On Dec. 1, the Commission Voted 9-0 to Request a Three-Week Extension to Connecticut's Nov. 30 Congressional Map Deadline. The Commission submitted the Request to the State Supreme Court, which took Control of the Redistricting Process after the Deadline Passed.
The Nine-Member Commission consists of Four Democratic State Lawmakers, Four Republican State Lawmakers, and One Republican former State Representative, who the Other Commission Members selected. The Commission took over the Redistricting Process after the State’s Eight-Member Reapportionment Committee did Not meet its Sept. 15 Deadline. Unlike the Committee, the Reapportionment Commission’s Maps did Not need Approval from the General Assembly. The Commission Unanimously Approved State Legislative Maps in November.
New Mexico
The New Mexico Legislature Approved New Boundaries for the State’s Three Congressional Districts strictly along Party Lines, sending the Proposal to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D). The State Senate Approved the Maps on Dec. 10, and the State House Approved them on Dec. 11, with All Democrats Voting in favor, and All Republicans Voting Against. Robert Nott, of the Santa Fe New Mexican, wrote that the Proposal “gives Democrats a comfortable lead in all three congressional districts.” The Current Party Affiliation of New Mexico’s U.S. House Members is Two Democrats and One Republican.
South Carolina
South Carolina enacted New State Legislative District Maps on Dec. 10, 2021, when Gov. Henry McMaster (R) Signed a Proposal Approved by the South Carolina House and Senate into Law. The South Carolina Senate Approved House and Senate Map Proposals in a 43-1 Vote on Dec. 7, and the House Approved the New Districts in a 75-27 Vote on Dec. 9. Gov. McMaster Signed the Bill into Law the next day. This Map will take effect for South Carolina’s 2022 State Legislative Elections.
Rep. Wendy Brawley (D-70th District) said the Proposal was “highly gerrymandered…to the disadvantage of most Democrats and to the disadvantage of many minorities — it protects Republicans.”
Rep. Jay Jordan (R-63rd District) said, “We worked very hard to make sure that was not the case, and I feel very comfortable in saying that was not the case.”
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
