We all know by now that the Republican Party once again has taken control of the House. What is lesser known is the impact that the G.O.P. may now have in the redistricting happening this year.
With ABC World News reporting that “roughly a third of states [are] expected to either gain or lose a member of Congress after this year's census”, Republicans are expected to have even greater control once new lines are drawn.
This is even more likely if the Sate Legislature is assigned to draw district lines. When Legislatures are making the decisions there is no doubt that they will aim to benefit their own party. In this case, Republicans and will try to draw lines to keep Republican seats safe, and aid future elections to place them at even more of an advantage in U.S. politics.
In order to avoid unfair redistricting and extreme polarization of the Parties, some states take a different approach. Many allow independent commissions to decide the lines, and others allow them to propose ideas, which they then authorize.
G.O.P. control is become even more evident in the United States in the weeks after the election results, and redistricting is just another example of the power of the Republicans will hold in the future.
I agree. Now that the Republicans have gained control of Congress they are going to draw district lines in their favor. This is going to make life extremely difficult for the Democrats. How are they supposed to gain control with majority republican districts?
ReplyDeleteI also agree that the fairest way of redistricting is to have an independent commissioner draw the lines. This way he would be unbiased but I doubt that the Republicans will ever let this happen.
I completely agree with you Tiffany! It is going to be hard for the Democrats to fight back when the Republicans have gained control of Congress and will be drawing district lines. Depending on how these lines are drawn can greatly impact future election and I am sure Republicans will try to use this to their advantage. Hopefully an independent commissioner is used to draw the lines in order to have unbiased and fair boundaries but I agree that I doubt the Republicans will let it when they can just use it to gain control across the nation.
ReplyDeleteRepublicans definitely have the upper hand when it comes to redistricting. Democrats having lost so many seats have lost a lot of pull and voices to speak out. Even though the democratic party has been very easy to push over, giving the republicans their way on numerous legislation. But now democrats definitley are on the losing end. For an unbaised result an independent commissioner would be best because if not, republicans would gain an even greater advantage over the democrats.
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