My mapmaking has been slowed down lately, but I wanted to share a configuration I have been working on now that DRA has full 2010 census data.
Essentially, this map makes all five current Democratic seats into seats with a majority African-American VAP. Numbers below are VAP figures, not total population
GA-2 – 42.7% White, 51.1% Black, 4% Hispanic, 0.9% Asian
GA-4 – 32.5% White, 51.5% Black, 8.9% Hispanic, 5.1% Asian
GA-5 – 32.7% White, 52.3 Black, 9.8% Hispanic, 3.3% Asian
GA-12 – 42% White, 50.3% Black, 4.7% Hispanic, 1.5% Asian
GA-13 – 32.7% White, 54.4% Black, 7.9% Hispanic, 3.4% Asian
Making GA-12 have a majority black VAP was by far the hardest goal. Essentially I swapped out current white, rural districts, and instead added largely black portions of Newton, Rockdale, and southwest Gwinnett.
In addition, it should be noted that GA-7 under this configuration (Gwinnett minus the plurality-black parts of the southwest, and a few overwhelmingly white precincts in the north) is only 43.9% white, with a 47.6% white VAP. Despite the high number of minorities in the county it’s currently heavily Republican (probably because of a high immigrant population), but in districts like this it’s only a matter of time before they swing. I could have easily drawn a district which was less than 40% white by dipping into Latino-heavy parts of DeKalb and shuffling other districts around, but I liked having such a compact GA-4.
Note: I didn’t put much thought into the Republican seats, aside from keeping them in roughly the same places where possible (although that was obviously more difficult in metro Atlanta with the new GA-14.
Regardless, any thoughts?
The three Atlanta seats are fine and dandy.
For GA2 just leave as it except make either a lunge into Warner Robbins or Valdosta and then push some white voters into GA8 or GA3. I would look there for that seat. It does not need to be contorted too much.
Now for GA12 I would ditch southern suburbs of Augusta and western suburbs of Savannah. Then curl through Jones county and get the AA population (or part of it) in Macon.
You need about 5% in GA2 for 50% and about that for GA12. That should be easy with all these jagged lines.
Your new district covers about the same ground as Sherman’s march to the sea.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S…
Bishop’s district and the three Atlanta districts aren’t too different from their current versions, and your versions are a little cleaner. The new district is a bit of a reach in terms of compactness and communities of interest but I’ve seen a lot worse, especially in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
It shores up (eliminates excuses for) the two most vulnerable Democratic seats while keeping the others safe. And, as you said, GA-07 remains a ticking timebomb for the Republicans. I should note, however, that a district similar to your 12th was struck down in court in the 1990s (IIRC).