Author: ThinkBlue

I decided to go with a 28-0 map because I think its the most realistic. I dont think the democrats would have spent a million dollars to get Bill Owens elected if they didnt intend on keeping all upstate Democrats. I get 28 Democrat districts by drawing Lee and Massa into the same district and King and McCarthy into the same district and creating a new Long Island seat. My map only leaves two Democrats under 54% Murphy and Owens. I chose these two because the Northeast seems to be the fastest Democrat trending area of New York.  

NY-1: Bishop

Part of Suffolk County

New 54%-46% Obama

Old 52%-48% Obama

White:81% Black:5% Native:0% Asian:3% Hispanic:10% Other:1%

Stays mostly the same loses Smithtown and reaches into the Hispanic part of Islip

NY-2: Israel

Part of Suffolk County, part of Nassau County

New 55%-45% Obama

Old 56%-43% Obama

White:75% Black:9% Native:0% Asian:3% Hispanic:12% Other:2%

Stays mostly the same

NY-3: No Incumbent

Part of Suffolk County, part of Nassau County, part of Queens, part of Bronx

New 57%-43% Obama

Old 52%-47% McCain

White:67% Black:15% Native:0% Asian:4% Hispanic:12% Other:2%

I drew this district from the Bronx to the Conservative areas of Suffolk and Nassau to let the other districts pick up the more Democratic areas of Suffolk and Nassau. I noticed some people drew 3 horizontal districts to solve this problem but I like this way because I keep Israel’s and McCarthy’s districts as close to their current districts as possible. This way also allows me to add a few more Democratic votes to the other districts.

NY-4: King vs McCarthy

Part of Suffolk County, Part of Nassau County

New 57%-42% Obama

Old 57%-42% Obama

White:67% Black:16% Native:0% Asian:3% Hispanic:12% Other:2%

McCarthy keeps most of her old district and King loses most of his republican areas

NY-5: Ackerman

Part of Queens, part of Nassau County

New 57%-43% Obama

Old 63%-36% Obama

White:58% Black:6% Native:0% Asian:21% Hispanic:12% Other:3%

Loses parts of Queens to reach further into Nassau

NY-6: Meeks

Queens

New 87%-13% Obama

Old 89%-11% Obama

White:16% Black:50% Native:1% Asian:8% Hispanic:16% Other:8%

Stays mostly the same

NY-7: Crowley

Queens, Bronx

New 76%-23% Obama

Old 79%-20% Obama

White:31% Black:15% Native:0% Asian:15% Hispanic:36% Other:3%

loses parts of the Bronx and adds parts of Queens

NY-8: Nadler

Upper West Side, Lower East Side, Brooklyn

New 79%-20% Obama

Old 74%-24% Obama

White:50% Black:5% Native:0% Asian:19% Hispanic:23% Other:3%

The 8th becomes a minority district with a 50.25% minority population by picking up minority areas of the Lower East Side and Brooklyn

NY-9: Weiner

Brooklyn, Queens

New 56%-43% Obama

Old 55%-44% Obama

White:62% Black:5% Native:0% Asian:16% Hispanic:13% Other:3%

Adds more of Southern Brooklyn loses some of Queens

NY-10: Towns

Brooklyn

New 92%-7% Obama

Old 91%-9% Obama

White:18% Black:59% Native:0% Asian:3% Hispanic:17% Other:3%

Stays mostly the same

NY-11: Clarke

Brooklyn

New 83%-16% Obama

Old 91%-9% Obama

White:27% Black:55% Native:0% Asian:5% Hispanic:10% Other:4%

Adds some of the heavily republican areas of Brooklyn to keep it out of Weiner’s district

NY-12: Valazquez

Brooklyn, Queens

New 81%-19% Obama

Old 86%-13% Obama

White:25% Black:10% Native:0% Asian:9% Hispanic:51% Other:4%

Removed the southern part of Brooklyn and added more of Queens to make it a little more compact.

NY-13: McMahon

Staten Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan

New 58%-41% Obama

Old 51%-49% McCain

White:72% Black:7% Native:0% Asian:7% Hispanic:11% Other:2%

Adds part of Manhattan, couldnt get the distric Democratic enough without it.

NY-14: Maloney

Upper East Side, Queens

New 78%-21% Obama

Old 78%-21% Obama

White:62% Black:6% Native:0% Asian:11% Hispanic:16% Other:4%

Stays mostly the same

NY-15: Rangel

Harlem, Spanish Harlem, Upper West Side, Washington Heights

New 93%-6% Obama

Old 93%-6% Obama

White:18% Black:29% Native:0% Asian:3% Hispanic:47% Other:2%

Stays mostly the same

NY-16: Serrano

Bronx

New 95%-5% Obama

Old 95%-5% Obama

White:3% Black:30% Native:0% Asian:2% Hispanic:63% Other:2%

Stays mostly the same

NY-17: Engel

Rockland County, Part of Westchester County(Yonkers), Bronx

New 61%-38% Obama

Old 72%-28% Obama

White:62% Black:12% Native:0% Asian:6% Hispanic:18% Other:2%

Loses part of the Bronx to add more of Rockland County.

NY-18: Lowey

Part of Westchester County(Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, White Plains, Rye) part of Putnam County, part of Dutchess County

New 60%-39% Obama

Old 62%-38% Obama

White:69% Black:14% Native:0% Asian:4% Hispanic:12% Other:2%

Has to reach further North with the loss of an upstate district.

NY-19: Hall

Part of Dutchess County(Poughkeepsie), part of Columbia County, part of Orange County, Part of Putnam County, part of Westchester County(Peekskill)

New 54%-45% Obama

Old 51%-48% Obama

White:79% Black:8% Native:0% Asian:2% Hispanic:9% Other 2%

Stays mostly the same.

NY-20: Murphy

Warren, Saratoga, Washington Counties, part of Schenectady, Rensselaer, Columbia Counites

New 53%-45% Obama

Old 51%-48% Obama

White:92% Black:3% Native:0% Asian:1% Hispanic:2% Other:1%

Adds Schenectady and becomes much more compact.

NY-21: Tonko

Albany, Fulton, Montgomery Counties

New 54%-44% Obama

Old 58%-40% Obama

White:89% Black:5% Native:0% Asian:1% Hispanic:3% Other:1%

Has to become larger to allow other districts to become more Deomcratic.

NY-22: Hinchey

Ulster County, Sullivan County, Broome Coumty(Binghamton)

New 54%-44% Obama

Old 59%-39% Obama

White:86% Black:5% Native:0% Asian:2% Hispanic:5% Other:2%

Stays mostly the same. Loses Ithica and adds more rural areas to become less Democratic.

NY-23: Owens

Clinton County, Oswego County, Jefferson County, part of Onieda County(Rome)

New 51%-47% Obama

Old 52%-47% Obama

White:93% Black:3% Native:1% Asian:1% Hispanic:2% Other:1%

Stays mostly the same. I kept Owens district the weakest because he is the newest representative and his district is trending Democratic faster than most. Hopefully by mid decade he will have a more favorable district.

NY-24: Arcuri

Tompkins County(Ithaca), Part of Onieda County(Utica), Part of Monroe County

New 55%-44% Obama

Old 51%-48% Obama

White:90% Black:3% Native:0% Asian:3% Hispanic:2% Other:1%

Has to move further west with the loss of a district. Becomes more Democratic with adding Ithica and Rochester suburbs.

NY-25: Maffei

Onondaga County(Syracuse), part of Monroe County

New 56%-43% Obama

Old 56%-43% Obama

White:87% Black:6% Native:1% Asian:2% Hispanic:2% Other:2%

Stays the same

NY-26: Lee vs Massa

Steuben County, Part of Erie County(Buffalo), Part of Niagara(Niagara Falls)

New 54%-45% Obama

Old 29th 51%-48% McCain

White:82% Black:14% Native:1% Asian:2%  Hispanic:1% Other:1%

Combines some republican areas of both reps and adds most of the black areas of Buffalo and Niagara Falls. If Massa can win his current district in 2010 he should win in 2012 against Lee in the more favorable district.

NY-27: Higgins

Part of Erie County(Buffalo), Chatuaqua County

New 54%-44% Obama

Old 54%-44% Obama

White:88% Black:5% Native:1% Asian:1% Hispanic:4% Other:1%

Higgins wins by comfortable margins so I kept his district the same.

NY-28: Slaughter

Part of Monroe County(Rochester), Part of Niagara County, Orleans County

New 55%-43% Obama

Old 69%-30%Obama

White:79% Black:13% Native:0% Asian:1% Hispanic:5% Other:2%

Loses its parts of Buffalo and Niagara Falls and adds more of Monroe County.  

I made this map assuming New York will lose one seat, all incumbents will win in 2010 and Republicans will hold NY-23. I chose to assume Republicans would hold the 23rd district because it seemed easier to redistrict out the 23rd district than the 26th.  

NY-19 Hall	Obama	McCain	Total
Current 19th	50.7%	46.2%
Saratoga County	2151	1987	4217
Washington County	12741	12533	25714
Rensselaer County	39753	32840	73976
Columbia County	17556	13337	31403
Dutchess County	71060	59628	132246
Putnam County	21613	25145	47206
Total	164874	145470	314762
New 19th	52.4%	46.2%

With slow population growth and redistricting out the 23rd district, districts had to move East and North. Since I started in the West and making it more Democratic Hall’s district changed a lot but Dutchess and Putnam Counties account for over 50% of the district which are in his district now.

NY-20 Murphy vs Scozzafava	Obama	McCain	Total
Current 20th	50.7%	47.7%
St Lawrence County	23706	16956	41223
Franklin County	10571	6676	17495
Clinton County	20216	12579	33312
Essex County	10390	7913	18590
Warren County	16281	15429	32206
Schenectady County	38611	29758	69765
Saratoga County	54494	50868	107008
Total	174269	140179	319599
New 20th	54.5%	43.9%

The 20th’s new Make up is 40.9% from the old 20th, 37.7% from the old 23rd, and 21.4% from the old 21st. Every county voted for Obama.

NY-21 Tonko	Obama	McCain	Total
Current 21st	58.1%	40%
Lewis County	4986	5969	11129
Jefferson County	18166	20219	38847
Herkimer County	12904	14619	27176
Hamilton County	1225	2141	3408
Fulton County	9695	11709	21800
Montgomery County	9080	10711	20168
Ostego County	13570	12026	26094
Schoharie County	6009	8071	14381
Albany County	93937	50586	147110
Total	168762	136051	310113
New 21st	54.4%	43.9%

Pickes up area from the old 23rd and 24th to the North and West becomes less Democratic. Albany County makes up about half of the district.

NY-22 Hinchey	Obama	McCain	Total
Current 22nd	59.2%	39.3%
Delaware County	9462	10524	20384
Greene County	9850	12059	22287
Sullivan County	16850	13900	31153
Ulster County	52539	32527	86461
Orange County	69913	60951	132233
Total	158614	129961	292518
New 22nd	54.2%	44.4%

Becomes more compact and less Democratic by losing its finger that goes through Binghamton and to Tompkins County.

NY-23 Massa	Obama	McCain	Total
Current 29th	48.2%	50.5%
Monroe County	101751	82413	186379
Ontario County	17431	15978	33816
Wayne County	9803	13009	23150
Yates County	4890	5269	10264
Seneca County	7422	7038	14725
Schuyler County	3933	4542	8600
Chemung County	18888	19364	38693
Tioga County	10172	12536	23085
Steuben County*	5951*	8398*	14535*
Total	180241	168547	353247
New 23rd	51%	47.7%

The numbers for the 23rd and 26th are not exact numbers because I could not find political data for Steuben County so I split up the numbers based on population. I would assume Corning is less repulbican than Steuben County on a whole, but since I dont know the area and couldnt find information on it I just split Steuben up evenly.

The 23rd picks up more of the Rochester exurbs and loses its strong republican areas in the Southwest. Monroe County now makes up about half of the district.

NY-24 Arcuri	Obama	McCain	Total
Current 24th	50.3%	48%
Cayuga County	16536	13398	30463
Cortland County	11861	9678	21897
Broome County	47204	40077	88707
Chenango County	10100	10337	20847
Madison County	14692	14434	29774
Oneida County	32627	34555	68237
Tompkins County	29826	11927	42472
Total	162846	134406	302397
New 24th	53.9%	44.4%

After his close call in 2008 making Arcuri’s district safer was one of my main goals. Picks up the rest of Tompkins and Broome Counties making it more Democratic.

NY-25 Maffei	Obama	McCain	Total
Current 25th	55.7%	42.6%
Wayne County	8381	9230	17829
Onondaga County	129317	84972	218194
Oswego County	24777	23571	49249
Oneida County	10879	14701	26069
Total	173354	132474	311341
New 25th	55.6%	42.5%

Loses its area in Monroe County and parts of Wayne County. Picks up Oswego County and parts of Oneida County. Stays almost the exact same politicaly.

NY-26 Lee	Obama	McCain	Total
Current 26th	46.4%	52.2%
Niagara County	26003	27267	54148
Orleans County	1758	2714	4550
Monroe County	12813	15385	28593
Genesee County	10762	15705	26866
Wyoming County	6379	10998	17665
Livingston County	13655	16030	30112
Chatauqua County	29129	28579	58762
Cattaraugus County	14307	17770	32588
Ontario County	7762	9193	17186
Allegany County	7016	11013	18386
Steuben County*	11197*	15805*	27353*
Total	140781	170459	316181
New 26th	44.5%	53.9%

Lee would now live in the 27th but I assume he would run in the safer 26th. Becomes more republican after losing its areas in Erie County and picking up most of the heavy republican areas from the 23rd.

NY-27 Higgins	Obama	McCain	Total
Current 27th	54.2%	44%
Erie County	191229	125711	321941
New 27th	59.4%	39%

Loses Chautauqua County and becomes more Democratic by picking up the rest of Buffalo.

NY-28 Slaughter	Obama	McCain	Total
Current 28th	68.5%	30.3%
Erie County	65070	53104	119985
Niagara County	21300	19081	41014
Orleans County	4856	6994	12024
Monroe County	92661	46355	140630
Total	183887	125534	313653
New 28th	58.6%	40%

I kept the general earmuff shape of the district the same to allow the 23rd to pick up more of Monroe County. I also kept it pretty safe considering Slaughter would be 93 on election day 2022 most likely creating an open seat in the next decade. I also drew Slaughter out of her own district but I did it mainly to make it easier to calculate the results it wouldnt much diffrence to draw an finger out to Fairport like there is now.

This is my attempt at a Michigan Democratic gerrymander. Assuming they can hold the Governors mansion and win back the state senate. I looked up the political data and calculated the results for each district. My map ends up giving Peters and Schauer more Democratic districts. It most likely gets rid of Rogers, Camp, and McCotter and gives the Dems a pickup opportunity in the 2nd in an open seat or against a freshmen Republican that voted 54.6 for Obama.

District 1 – Bart Stupak(D-Menominee)

Stays Pretty much the same picks up Grand Traverse County and loses its area of Bay County

Voted 49.60-48.49 Obama

District 2 – Open/Hoekstra replacement

Loses its Republican areas to the south and picks up Bay County and some of the small counties inbetween

Voted 54.67-43.55 Obama

District 3 – Open/Hoekstra replacement

Loses Grand Rapids and picks up the surronding republican areas

Voted 57.3-40.93 McCain

District 4 – John Dingell(D-Dearborn)

The problem with my map is John Dingell doesnt live in the 4th he lives in the 14th(Conyers). So unless he retires or agrees to move the easiest solution would be to swap areas with the 11th and 14th and have Dingell run against McCotter. With the 11th, 13th, 14th expanding the new 4th takes in little of Wayne County and now takes in Hillsdale County, Lenawee County, more of Wastenaw County and some of Oakland County.

Voted 56.43-41.95 Obama

District 5 – Dale Kildee(D-Flint) vs Mike Rogers(R-Howell)

Loses Saginaw and Bay City to break up the republicans gerrymander and picks up Shiawassee County and Livingston County to balance out heavy democratic Flint

Voted 56.59-41.7 Obama

District 6 – Vern Ehlers(R-Grand Rapids) vs Fred Upton(R-St Joseph)

Switches population centers from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids to pack republicans into the 3rd. Becomes slighty less Democratic

Voted 52.79-45.58 Obama

District 7 – Mark Schauer(D-Battle Creek)

Loses Hillsdale, Lenawee, and Eaton Counties. Picks up Kalamazoo, Cass, and St Joseph. Becomes slighty more Democratic.

Voted 53.96-44.32 Obama

District 8 – Dave Camp(R-Midland)

Loses Livingston and picks up Eaton and Saginaw to become more Democratic

Voted 58.71-39.71 Obama

District 9 – Gary Peters(D-Bloomfield hills)

Picks up Southfield loses Farmington hills to become more Democratic

Voted 58.38-40.28 Obama

District 10 – Candice Miller(R-Harrison Township)

Miller would no longer live in this district but I assume she wouldnt want to face off against Levin. Becomes slighty more republican.

50.94-47.12 McCain

District 11 – Thaddeus McCotter(R-Livonia)

Picks up Ypsilanti, Romulus, Inkster, and Farmington Hills and loses its republican parts of Oakland County.

Voted 60.44-38.02 Obama

District 12 – Sander Levin(D-Royal Oak)

Loses Southfield and picks up Sterling Heights. Becomes less Democratic

Voted 59.27-38.85 Obama

District 13 – Carolyn Kilpatrick(D-Detroit)

Stays the same but had to expand picks up some areas to the south

51.8% Black

District 14 – John Conyers(D-Detroit)

Picks up the rest of Dearborn and Taylor

52.2% Black

I drew my map with the goal of getting as many Democratic seats as possible. This was before I knew New Jersey has a commision draw its seats so it is probably unrealistic. I looked up the politcal data and caculated the presidential results for each district. I managed to get 11 districts at 54% or better and one Republican seat.  

Northeast New Jersey



North New jersey



South New Jersey

District 1 – Frank LoBiondo(R-Ventnor)

Stays Pretty much the same loses its area in Burlington and Camden Counties for more democratic areas in Gloucester County

Voted 55.3-43.5 Obama

District 2 – Robert Andrews(D-Haddon Heights)

Andrews current district went 65% for Obama so I gave some of its democratic areas to the 1st and 3rd and picked up republican areas in Burlington and Ocean Counties.

Voted 58-40.7 Obama

District 3 – John Adler(D-Cherry Hill)

Adlers old district went 52% for Obama so I swaped some areas with Andrews gave it the rest of Norther Burlington County and gave it less of Ocean County

Voted 56.1-42.8 Obama

District 4 – Christoper Smith(R-Hamiliton) vs Rush Holt(D-Hopewell)

Since I took Burlington out of the old 4th I needed more democratic areas so I gave it all of Mercer County where both Smith and Holt live and to balance it out I gave it the rest of Ocean Coutny

Voted 55.8-42.9 Obama

District 5 – Frank Pallone(D-Long Branch)

Loses New Brunswick and Plainfield picks up Linden and picks up some republican areas of Monmouth County

Voted 54.3-44.6 Obama

District 6 – No Incumbent

Since I was trying to avoid a republican district in the south. When I put all of Mercer County in the 4th it left me with no incumbent near my 6th. Takes in New Brunswick and other Democratic areas in Middlesex County and Republican areas of Monmouth County.

Voted 55.4-43.6 Obama

District 7 – Lenoard Lance(R-Lebanon)

The old 7th barely went for Obama so I gave it more of Union County

Voted 54.1-45.1 Obama

District 8 – Donald Payne(D-Newark)

Lost its areas of Elizabeth and gained area in Essex and Morris counties. Is only 45% Black and 37% White

District 9 – Albio Sires(D-West New York)

Loses its finger to the south and picks up areas in Hudson and Bergen counties. Only 44% Hispanic and 37% White

District 10 – Bill Pascrell Jr(D-Patterson) Takes in almost all of Passaic County and some of Essex and some republican areas in Bergen County.

Voted 57.3-41.9 Obama

District 11 – Steven Rothman(D-Fair Lawn)

Loses area in Passaic and Hudson Counties picks up more area in Bergen County and Passaic City.

Voted 58.7-40.5 Obama

District 12 – Scott Garrett(R-Wantage) vs Rodney Frelinghuysen(R-Harding)

The 12th is left with Republican areas in the north.

I didnt have political data of Morris County but this district went about 56-43 McCain