Hey everyone,
So yeah, I’ve made a few maps in my spare time since yesterday (more than I probably should have). The first is a PERFECT 8-0 map of Maryland that takes into account a number of good things I’ve seen in other Maryland maps on this site.
District 1 – blue – basically silver spring’s construction of MD-01, the best one I’ve seen. 57-40 Obama
District 2 – green – Similar to the current 2, but better. More democratic and a little less crazy-looking (in my opinion) 62-35 Obama
District 3 – purple – the only district that I’ve moved substantially. Sorry Sarbanes, but taking 3 through Baltimore just makes everything else too crazy. Though originally a Baltimore City district, the real base for this district today should be Howard County, which is already 60-40 Obama and should not be split. Eventually population loss will move this one out of Baltimore anyway, so Sarbanes can move. 60-37 Obama.
District 4 – red – did not want to move it into Baltimore County, but if I didn’t it would’ve been overpacked with Dems more than it already is. 50% black. 69-28 Obama
District 5 – yellow – more Anne Arundel-based, but also less gerrymandered-looking. 60-38 Obama.
District 6 – bluish-purple – Maryland redistricting fans know the drill here. Split MontCo, 60-37 Obama.
District 7 – grey – takes in more Republican territory. 50% black. 64-34 Obama (this is some really Republican territory we’re talking about here for a majority-black district in MD to only vote 64% for Obama)
District 8 – teal – CVH should be fine. 60-37 Obama.
Here are some other ones I made. First a 4-4 Rep gerrymander:
All 4 Rep districts are about R+4 or R+5, so they should hold.
Next, a “fair” 7-1 Dem map. I define a fair map as only splitting the counties that need to be split (unless necessary), making each county that needs to be split have at least one exclusive congressional district, and making the districts that go into multiple counties have at least one large unified geographical base (like a large county or accepted cultural region).
The teal, purple, yellow, and green distrits are all around D+1 to D+3.
Here’s a “fair” 6-2 map.
Every district is at least 58% Obama (D+5). How crazy is that?
Here’s an attempt at a “fair” rep map.
The green and yellow districts actually voted for Obama (D+0 to D+1). The teal and blue districts voted for McCain slightly (R+3)
Well, that’s it; let me know what you think.
are very similar. I guess that’s the obvious GOP map, and also pretty close to the obvious “fair” map, though it is not actually fair at all.
Here’s an idea for MD-1 on the 8-0 Dem map. Rather than looping around next to the PA border, why not just cross the water directly into Baltimore Harbor? Or have MD-1 cross the bridge to Annapolis, then up into Baltimore. As it is now, MD-4 crosses the water just south of Baltimore harbor anyway (though I guess you can rationalize that it is going through the tunnel). And then you have to put the GOP parts of Eastern Baltimore County taken up by MD-4 somewhere else.
In reality I doubt that Sarbanes will actually get drawn out, though it makes more geographical sense. They will keep the Baltimore districts meandering all over the place.
Maybe a pessimist trafficking in stereotypes here, but whenever I see the “50.1% black majority but all the white areas deep red” stuff, I worry about turnout issues.
I suppose that is to some extent how the present-day MD-7 looks, but even that includes diverse parts of Columbia and a few white-majority parts of Baltimore City.
I will say this though…while it looks goofy, running MD-1 along the PA border and swooping down into Woodlawn, Randallstown, and West Baltimore is freakin’ genius.
– District 2 is shaped like an emaciated elephant pushing a snowplow.
– Southeast Baltimore County voted against Obama but it’s still Democratic at the local level. They support Ruppersberger and they would support Kratovil or another Democrat drawn into their district. Although maybe not Donna Edwards.
– I know a liberal interracial family who lives in the Harford part of your 7th. They would appreciate your redistricting.
– Population reality probably means Baltimore will lose a district and a new “corridor” district will be created, primarily out of Howard and AA. This setup could be gerrymandered to favor the Republicans or the Democrats.
– Chris Van Hollen won’t appreciate having to drive out to Garrett County to make political appearances.
– Frederick and Washington Counties are trending Democratic quickly so the western district in the Republican gerrymanders could elect a Democrat in a few years. Just breaking Carroll off the current 6th should be enough to put it in play.
His living in Towson will probably be responsible for most of the ugliness in Maryland’s districts.
I made a map where I kept Sarbanes near Baltimore and ran the 1st across Chesapeake Bay through Annapolis into Prince George’s County, which is probably the finest rat poison ever made.