Redistricting
The 50 Safest U.S. House Districts in the Nation (2002-2008)
Democrats currently hold 43 of the 50 least competitive seats in the nation; John Lewis (GA-05), Kendrick Meek (FL-17), and Richard Neal (MA-02) have not faced a challenger since new district lines were drawn in 2002
Read MoreThe Top 50 Most Competitive U.S. House Districts in the Nation (2002-2008)
Jim Gerlach’s PA-06 seat is the only U.S. House district in the nation decided by less than 10 points in each of the last four election cycles; Democrats currently hold 35 of the Top 50 most competitive seats
Read MorePopulation Booms and Busts Across Minnesota’s 87 Counties This Decade
Soaring population in central Minnesota and southern metropolitan regions to require eventual carving up of 6th and 2nd Congressional Districts after 2010
Read MoreWisconsin’s Current Congressional District Maps 2nd Least Competitive in State History
Only 6.3 percent of U.S. House elections since 2002 have been decided by less than 10 points (2 of 32 contests)
Read MoreAre Minnesota’s U.S. House Seats Safer for Incumbents Today Than in the Past?
In the current census period, 2002-2008, Minnesota’s U.S. House incumbents have been reelected at a rate of 93.1 percent, or 27 of 29 contests
Read MoreRepublicans in Competitive Districts Opposed Pogemiller Redistricting Bill; Safe GOPers Supported Reform
When DFL Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller saw his redistricting reform bill (SF 182) pass on a 39-28 roll call vote last Friday, he nearly needed one of the five votes cast by Republicans in favor of the bill. While…
Read MorePogemiller Delivers on Redistricting Reform; SF 182 Passes Senate Floor Vote
While the thunder of Governor Tim Pawlenty’s new unallotment strategy drew all the attention of Capitol watchers on Thursday and Friday, the Senate, under the leadership of DFL Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller (SD59-Minneapolis), passed a redistricting bill that will perhaps…
Read MoreRedistricting Update: SF 182 Heads to Rules Committee
On Thursday morning the Minnesota Senate Finance Committee approved SF 182 on a voice vote, with one Senator dissenting. The legislation, authored by Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller (SD 59-Minneapolis) and Ann Rest (SD 45-New Hope), would establish new legislative and…
Read MoreBeneath the Budget Battle, Redistricting Efforts Bubble Up
A Who’s Who of Minnesota politics from across the political spectrum continue to speak as one voice in an effort to bring change to the process by which the State draws its congressional and legislative districts. Back in January 2008,…
Read MoreIowa’s Congressional District Map 5th Least Competitive in 17 Decades
Last month Smart Politics profiled the lack of competitiveness generated by Minnesota’s currently drawn Congressional District map – a map that has produced the third least percentage of competitive contests in 15 decades in the Gopher State. Minnesota’s neighbor to…
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