Edit: I just realized the deadline was of course Eastern standard time. Forgive the foolish Californian. At any rate, I did send my .drf.xml to Jeff in time, but even if I am too late this has been a lot of fun.
For my entry in New York redistricting contest, I decided to create a 27-1 map. I chose to eliminate Peter King and pack as many republicans as possible into Chris Lee’s 26th district.
I expect all democrats to be reelected. Eliminating the old 3rd allowed me to move Nita Lowry’s district southwards, thereby opening up much of Westchester county to reinforce Hall and indirectly the other upstate districts. I aimed for 55% Obama (i.e. a PVI of D+2) for most of the vulnerable upstate districts. The most vulnerable incumbent is Bill Owens in the 23rd at 53% Obama. In general, I tried to keep incumbents in their main bases of support. Also, I was careful to make sure all incumbents’ homes were actually in their new districts.
I aimed for clean lines where possible; however, I had no compunction about obscene gerrymandering when necessary (e.g. Rochester). Some of the uglier districts where necessary to ensure VRA compliance (Nadia Velazquez’s). Also just for fun, I tried to keep all the NYC bridges within the same district.
All districts are within 1600 or about 0.2% of the average population and all but four are within 1000. Finally, I adjusted the district numbers to reflect the changes.
Now without further ado onto the districts.
Long Island
NY-01
Incumbent: Tim Bishop (D)
Population: 701,285
2008 Results: 54% Obama – 45% McCain
This district stays based in western Suffolk county including Bishop’s home in Southampton. I strengthened it from 51% Obama by grabbing some very blue parts of Islip in exchange for swingy parts of Brookhaven and solid red Smithtown.
NY-02
Incumbent: Steve Israel (D)
Population: 699,873
2008 Results: 54% Obama – 46% McCain
The 2nd stays based in western Suffolk county, including all of Israel’s home in Huntington. I had to weaken this district slightly to strengthen the 1st. I made up for this partly by sending a finger into true blue North Hempstead while moving GOP leaning parts of Babylon into McCarthy’s district.
NY-03
Incumbent: Carolyn McCarthy (D)
Population: 700,667
2008 Results: 56% Obama – 43% McCain
Formerly the 4th, this district takes in most of south eastern Nassau County, including most of McCarthy’s base in Hempstead.
NY-04
Incumbent: Gary Ackerman (D)
Population: 700,640
2008 Results: 55% Obama – 44% McCain
The remnants of Peter King’s district had to go somewhere, and this (formerly the 5th) is where much of it went. I moved the swingy parts of the old 3rd west of Hempstead here, while giving part of north Queens for balance. I also took in the blue parts of Glen Cove. This district drops a fair bit from its old D+12, but should stay blue.
New York City
Queens
NY-05
Incumbent: Gregory Meeks (D)
Population: 699,395
2008 Results: 74% Obama – 26% McCain
Formerly the 6th, this is probably my favorite district, simply because it royally screws Peter King. This stays based in southeast Queens, but stretches along the coast to take in the truly brutal parts of the old 3rd, including all of King’s hometown in Oyster Bay. At 50% African American, it stays VRA compliant and should be a cakewalk for Meeks.
NY-06
Incumbent: Anthony Weiner (D)
Population: 700,140
2008 Results: 61% Obama – 38% McCain
This district, formerly the 9th, is mostly unchanged. It is based in central and south western Queens, with a finger into republican parts of south Brooklyn.
NY-07
Incumbent: Joseph Crowley (D)
Population: 699,985
2008 Results: 72% Obama – 27% McCain
This district sheds its northern half in the Bronx, which instead goes to Nita Lowey. This is balanced out by the Queens part of Gary Ackerman’s old district.
Brooklyn
NY-08
Incumbent: Edolphus Townes (D)
Population: 700,681
2008 Results: 85% Obama – 15% McCain
Formerly the 10th, this district is still based eastern Brooklyn and still majority (56%) African American. I slightly extended the finger into south Brooklyn to take in some of the deep red areas.
NY-09
Incumbent: Nydia Velazquez (D)
Population: 700,803
2008 Results: 87% Obama – 12% McCain
Formerly the 12th, this VRA district continues to take in the majority Hispanic neighborhoods in northern Brooklyn, western Queens and lower Manhattan. In total the district is 51% Hispanic
NY-10
Incumbent: Yvette Clarke (D)
Population: 701,024
2008 Results: 86% Obama – 14% McCain
Formerly the 11th, this district stays deep blue with its 56% African American majority
NY-11
Incumbent: Michael McMahon (D)
Population: 699,849
2008 Results: 57% Obama – 43% McCain
Formerly the 13th, this district gets a big boost with the inclusion of the financial district and Batter Park in southern Manhattan. I also have a couple fingers into deep blue parts along the Brooklyn shore. The core of the district remains Staten Island however.
Manhattan
NY-12
Incumbent: Jerrold Nadler (D)
Population: 699,549
2008 Results: 71% Obama – 28% McCain
Formerly the 8th, this is probably the most gerrymandered district I have. As before it takes in most of the Lower West Side, wanders through lower Manhattan, the jumps across the Brooklyn Bridge to take in much of western Brooklyn
NY-13
Incumbent: Carolyn Maloney (D)
Population: 699,640
2008 Results: 80% Obama – 19% McCain
This districts stays based in eastern Manhatten then jumps accross the Queensboro Bridge and Long Expressway to take in north western Queens.
NY-14
Incumbent: Charlie Rangel (D)
Population: 701,118
2008 Results: 92% Obama – 7% McCain
Formerly the 15th, this district stays based in Harlem and the rest of northern Manhattan. At 44% Hispanic and 28% AA, this is still solidly majority minority.
Bronx
NY-15
Incumbent: Jose Serrano (D)
Population: 699,572
2008 Results: 95% Obama – 5% McCain
At 63% Hispanic, this is the Bronx area VRA district taking in the south west of the borough.
NY-16
Incumbent: Nita Lowey (D)
Population: 699,561
2008 Results: 67% Obama – 32% McCain
Formerly the 18th, this district stays based in New Rochelle, but moves to take in the Bronx parts of the 7th and red parts of Northern Nassau County.
NY-17
Incumbent: Eliot Engel (D)
Population: 699,626
2008 Results: 70% Obama – 29% McCain
This district stays based in the north west Bronx, then stretches along western Westchester to take in the blood red parts of Rockland county.
Upstate
NY-18
Incumbent: John Hall (D)
Population: 701,862
2008 Results: 58% Obama – 41% McCain
We now get to the second benefit of eliminating Peter King. Since a series of NYC districts moved south and west to fill in the old 3rd, I’m able to open up some bright blue parts of Westchester County. Hall’s district, formerly the 19th, now extends much further south, taking in White Plains, part of Yonkers, and Mount Vernon. For balance, I shed Orange county and south western Dutchess county.
NY-19
Incumbent: Maurice Hinchey (D)
Population: 700,165
2008 Results: 55% Obama – 44% McCain
Formerly the 22nd, this district gets the most radical redraw of any in the state. I shed the entire northern half of the district, using Binghamton and Ithaca to strengthen Acuri. Meanwhile, I extend the district south to take in Orange county and the blue parts of Rockland county. Most of Hinchey’s base in Ulster County is still in so she should still be able to hold onto it, but it will definitely won’t be cakewalk anymore.
NY-20
Incumbent: Scott Murphy (D)
Population: 700,715
2008 Results: 55% Obama – 44% McCain
The biggest change here is the addition of deep blue Troy and part of western Albany. Also I have added in Poughkeepsie and swingy parts of south western Dutchess County. I have given Washington county to the 23rd, along with a blue finger running down the west part of the district. This should be a little easier to hold.
NY-21
Incumbent: Paul Tonko (D)
Population: 700,770
2008 Results: 55% Obama – 43% McCain
This district is weakened slightly to help out Scott Murphy and to some extent Bill Owens. To make up for the loss of Troy and part of Albany I extend the district both north and south west. To the north I take in deep red Hamilton County along with GOP parts of Fulton, Saratoga, and Warren Counties. To the south west I take in swing parts of Greene and Sullivan Counties, red parts of Delaware county, and solid blue parts of north Ulster County.
NY-22
Incumbent: Mike Acuri (D)
Population: 700,450
2008 Results: 55% Obama – 44% McCain
Formerly the 24th, this district gets a significant boost with the addition of Ithaca and Binghamton. I also shed the deep red area north of Rome. Finally to get sufficient population, I added in swingy Syracuse suburbs in south and western Onondaga County.
NY-23
Incumbent: Bill Owens (D)
Population: 701,668
2008 Results: 53% Obama – 45% McCain
This remains our most vulnerable district in New York. Still I manage to make it a point bluer by shedding the deep red area north and west of Rome and extending the aforementioned finger down the eastern border.
NY-24
Incumbent: Eric Massa (D)
Population: 701,475
2008 Results: 55% Obama – 43% McCain
Formerly the 29th, this district gets a significant boost from a large chunk of downtown Rochester. I also shed the deep red Western half of the district. Finally I sent out a finger going east to claim the rest of the swing parts of Maurice Hinchey’s old district
NY-25
Incumbent: Dan Maffei (D)
Population: 699,797
2008 Results: 55% Obama – 43% McCain
This district also gets a bump from parts of Rochester. However, this is then canceled out by the very republican areas in and around northern Oneida County. The end result is a point more competitive, but Maffei should be able to hold it with his base in Syracuse
NY-26
Incumbent: Chris Lee (R)
Population: 700,240
2008 Results: 42% Obama – 57% McCain
All the republicans in western New York had to go somewhere, so this is it. I added in the deep red western parts of Massa’s district along with any republican leaning areas in Erie and Chautauqa counties. Meanwhile I moved in swing areas around Rochester or Buffalo into the 27th and 28th.
NY-27
Incumbent: Brian Higgins (D)
Population: 699,327
2008 Results: 57% Obama – 41% McCain
This district is mostly unchanged, with a bit more of Higgins base in Buffalo. Should be an easy hold.
NY-28
Incumbent: Louise Slaughter (D)
Population: 699,260
2008 Results: 57% Obama – 41% McCain
This district probably ties the 8th for most gerrymandered. Seriously, Congresswoman Slaughter please for all that is holy move to the other side of Rochester. As it is now this district is D+15. I wanted to share some of that wealth with Maffei and Massa. The result is a serious of fingers taking in all the swing or only lean blue suburbs of Rochester, with just the thinnest sliver running through the downtown area to connect her home. As before I then run along the shore of Lake Ontario to take in northern Buffalo. I realize this district is ugly, but then it already gets a bad rap as the “earmuffs.”
At any rate, that’s my crack at New York. I think that’s about as much as we can strengthen upstate without sacrificing one of our incumbents. If nothing else though, I am convinced we need to get rid of Peter King once and for all.
Full size maps are available at http://s862.photobucket.com/al…