I made this map aiming for a 4-3 Republican delegation. Even though I strengthened shaky Republicans like Henry Brown and Joe Wilson from the 1st and 2nd districts, I was able to create a new safe Democratic district. This is assuming that South Carolina gets another district and that Joe Wilson and Henry Brown survive 2010. My main objectives were to keep John Spratt and James Clyburn safe and create a new Democratic district. The problem is that I wanted to create a new African American majority seat but I was unable to. Maybe the new district could be branded as a coalition district since Whites are a minority. This plan will probably not pass if Republicans control the legislature and the Governorship. Anyway, my next map will be Georgia or Minnesota. There will be no “different state” on the poll this time. Yes, I love giving polls and I have been asking the same question, I will admit. I guess I do not need to explain what the rankings mean. Well, here is the link to the maps http://frogandturtle.blogspot….
District 1 Henry Brown (R) Blue
Yes, I had to strengthen him even though I did not want to. He won by 4 points against openly lesbian Linda Ketner. In South Carolina, such a narrow win against an openly gay candidate is humiliating to Brown. I strengthened Brown by removing most of Charleston County (his district connects by water.) He should be safe with a strong base in Horry County and the Republican parts of Charleston County. I think McCain won this district with about 60% of the vote. Racial stats are 15% African American, a few points lower than the percentage for the current 1st and 78% White. Status is Safe Republican.
District 2 No Incumbent Green
This was my failed attempt at an African American majority district. It takes in most of Charleston County and Democratic parts of Berkeley and Dorchester Counties. I know I am going to get criticisms for not exchanging some parts of the 2nd district with the 1st. I wanted to make the White population a minority here so I could form a coalition district. I am not sure if I can do that with such a low Hispanic population. This district also takes in every Democratic area near the coast and even snakes up into heavily Republican Aiken in Central South Carolina. Even though I could have made this an African American majority district, I had to protect Clyburn without creating a district more convoluted than the old NC-12. Anyway, Obama probably won 58% of the vote here. Racial stats are 46% African American and 47% White. Status is Safe Democrat.
District 3 Gresham Barrett (R) Purple
I know that Wilson won by eight points in the last election but I needed to strengthen the 2nd district. I changed the look of this district a bit by extending it completely up the border of South Carolina and Georgia all the way up to the North Carolina border. I removed all of Richland County (Columbia) and almost all of Conservative Lexington County. Even though Gresham Barrett has his home here, Joe Wilson might take a run because it contains most of his old district. From the looks of the district, only a strong challenger could make this competitive. McCain probably won here with 63% of the vote. Racial stats are 20% African American and 74% White. Status is Likely Republican.
District 4 Bob Inglis (R) Red
Since the South Carolina Up Country is so Conservative Inglis should have no trouble here winning against a Democrat. I made the district even more Republican by removing the inner city of Spartanburg. This district is still based in Greenville and I had the district take in part of Pickens County. I think McCain won here with 64% of the vote. The racial stats are 16% African American (lower than the 20% African American population from the old 4th,) 6% Hispanic and 75% White. Status is Safe Republican.
District 5 Joe Wilson (R) Yellow
Joe Wilson should be strong in his Lexington County base but he should be wary of a challenge from the northern part of the district. An Up Country Republican may take a run at this district and looking at Wilson’s not so large 54% winning percentage from 2008, he may be in trouble in a primary. He should not worry about the general election because the territory the district includes is heavily Republican. McCain probably won here with 67% of the vote. The racial stats are 17% African American and 75% White. Status is Safe Republican.
District 6 John Spratt (D) Teal
Even though I needed to keep the African American percentage high for two other districts, the African American population of this one did not change much. It decreased by one point, to 31%. Since I kept most of the old territory in this district, I believe that Spratt should not worry about a challenge. He has been Congressman since 1982. I think that McCain won with 53% of the vote here. The racial stats are 31% African American and 64% White. Status is Safe Democrat.
District 7 James Clyburn (D) Gray
This district looks a bit convoluted. I had to make it this way to keep it an African American majority district so the Voting Rights Act can protect it and also protect Clyburn. I barely succeeded in keeping the African American population above 50%. I had to extend it all the way up to Spartanburg and I almost sent it into Greenville to take in African American precincts without endangering the 2nd or the 6th district. Clyburn should be safe even from a primary challenge. Obama probably received 62% of the vote here. Racial stats are 51% African American and 43% White. Status is Safe Democrat.
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