DemDaily: Staking The Stakes In The Redistricting Process

September 26, 2018

While the 2018 midterm elections are expected to flip control of the US House, an equally important outcome is control of the state legislatures and gubernatorial seats that will shape future congressional districts.

The decennial (every ten years) population census will be taken in 2020, and from that the 2021 redistricting, or redrawing, of the electoral district map in each state will take place.

The majority of redistricting plans will be drawn by State Legislatures, with many subject to final approval by the state's Governor. Republicans currently hold 64 of the 99 state chambers and 33 of the 50 Governor's seats.
Each state determines its own process for drawing electoral lines, with 27 drawn by state legislatures, 12 by an independent or bipartisan redistricting commission, and 4 by independent bodies but with final approval by the legislature.

 

Of the bipartisan commissions, however, only Arizona and California are considered truly independent as the others are appointed by, or report to, the legislature.

NDRC Target (Black) and Watch (Blue) States

According to the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, the state chambers and governor's races that are most important for shifting or retaining the balance of power in the redistricting process, are highlighted below.

Early Voting has started in Idaho, Minnesota, New Jersey, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming, and starts tomorrow in Illinois, Iowa, North Dakota.  Make your vote count!

State Legislative and Gubernatorial Control
State
House Majority
Senate Majority
Governor
Redistricting Process
Alabama Republican Republican Republican State Legislatures
Alaska*
Republican
Republican Independent Single District N/A
Arizona Republican Republican Republican Independent/Bipartisan Commission
Arkansas Republican Republican Republican Independent/Bipartisan Commission
California
Democrat
Democrat
Democrat Independent/Bipartisan Commission
Colorado
Democrat
Republican
Democrat
Independent/Bipartisan Commission
Connecticut
Democrat
Split
Democrat State Legislatures
Delaware
Democrat
Democrat
Democrat Single District N/A
Florida
Republican
Republican
Republican
State Legislatures
Georgia
Republican
Republican
Republican
State Legislatures
Hawaii
Democrat
Democrat
Democrat Independent/Bipartisan Commission
Idaho Republican Republican Republican Independent/Bipartisan Commission
Illinois
Democrat
Democrat
Republican
State Legislatures
Indiana Republican Republican Republican State Legislatures
Iowa Republican
Republican
Republican State Legislatures
Kansas Republican Republican Republican State Legislatures
Kentucky
Republican
Republican Republican State Legislatures
Louisiana Republican Republican Democrat State Legislatures
Maine
Democrat
Republican Republican Independent Commission/Legislative Approval
Maryland
Democrat
Democrat
Republican State Legislatures
Massachusetts
Democrat
Democrat
Republican
State Legislatures
Michigan
Republican
Republican
Republican
State Legislatures
Minnesota
Republican
Split
Democrat
State Legislatures
Mississippi Republican Republican Republican State Legislatures
Missouri Republican Republican Republican Independent/Bipartisan Commission
Montana Republican Republican Democrat Independent/Bipartisan Commission
Nebraska
Nonpartisan Unicameral
Nonpartisan Unicameral
Republican State Legislatures
Nevada
Democrat
Democrat
Republican
State Legislatures
New Hampshire Republican Republican Republican State Legislatures
New Jersey
Democrat
Democrat
Democrat
Independent/Bipartisan Commission
New Mexico
Democrat
Democrat
Republican
State Legislatures
New York
Democrat
Democrat
Democrat Independent Commission/Legislative Approval
North Carolina
Republican
Republican
Democrat State Legislatures
North Dakota Republican Republican Republican Single District N/A
Ohio
Republican
Republican
Republican
Independent/Bipartisan Commission
Oklahoma Republican Republican Republican State Legislatures
Oregon
Democrat
Democrat
Democrat State Legislatures
Pennsylvania
Republican
Republican
Democrat
Independent/Bipartisan Commission
Rhode Island
Democrat
Democrat
Democrat Independent Commission /Legislative Approval
South Carolina Republican Republican Republican State Legislatures
South Dakota Republican Republican Republican Single District N/A
Tennessee Republican Republican Republican State Legislatures
Texas
Republican
Republican
Republican State Legislatures
Utah Republican Republican Republican State Legislatures
Vermont
Democrat
Democrat
Republican
Single District N/A
Virginia Republican Republican Democrat Independent Commission /Legislative Approval
Washington
Democrat
Democrat
Democrat Independent/Bipartisan Commission
West Virginia Republican Republican Republican State Legislatures
Wisconsin
Republican
Republican
Republican State Legislatures
Wyoming Republican Republican Republican Single District N/A

 

Seven states (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming) have only one congressional district so redistricting doesn't apply. Likewise, the five US territories and the District of Columbia, which each send a non-voting delegate to the House of Representatives, are also not affected by redistricting.

DemList will keep you informed.

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Kimberly Scott
Publisher

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Sources: NDRC, National Council of State Legislators

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