Congressional Redistricting Favors House Republicans

Despite probable losses in some key states during the next election cycle, the Republicans should hold a majority in the House of Representatives in 2012 thanks to strategic congressional redistricting, according to an analysis by John Gizzi political editor at the conservative news site Human Events.
 

Republicans in states like Michigan, Indiana, and Pennsylvania have leveraged their control of local legislatures and governorships to reduce Democratic representation though district mergers, eliminations, and reshaping, he said.

Gizzi uses Georgia as a case study. Thanks to the 2010 census, Georgia’s House delegation will grow by one representative this year, and the new district has been created in a strongly Republican-leaning section of the state.

Additionally, the redistricting in sections of Augusta and Columbia counties serves to both increase support for Republicans running in some districts while removing valuable Democratic votes from others, he said.

In northwest Atlanta, for example, conservative Rep. Phil Gingery’s suburban district has been expanded into sections of Atlanta that haven’t been represented by a Republican since the ‘60s.

While redistricting in states like California and Illinois may cost some Republican seats in 2010, Gizzi sees overall redistricting in the country as a net gain to Republicans that will translate into holding the House when the dust settles next November.