Redistricting Michigan 2012

by: Menhen

Sat May 23, 2009 at 11:26:57 AM EDT

Lately there has been a lot of Debate over the number of Democratic Congressional Districts that Democrats could gerrymander out of the state of Michigan if they had complete control (right now they hold the Governorship and State House.  They stand a good chance at taking control of the State Senate while the Governor's race is a tossup).  A few people have said that it is possible to succesfully draw a map that would yield 12 Democratic seats and only 2 Republican seats.  I've been trying for several weeks to draw a 12-2 map, meanwhile protecting endangered incumbents (specifically Schauer) and I've determined that a 12-2 map would be far overeaching and in a neutral or Republican leaning year might end up 9-5 or worse. I think the best Michigan Democrats could do is create 11 safe or Democrat leaning districts and 3 strongly Republican districts.  I've drawn a map that I think does just that, although I still am not entirely confident that we could hold both of my "Thumb" districts in a Republican year.  But without further ado, here's my map.

Who should primary Dingell? --Hieftje, Kolb, or Rivers? Vote

by: David Boyle

Mon Sep 10, 2007 at 02:25:58 AM EDT

  Suggest your own, but here are three options:

1) John Hieftje, Democratic mayor of Ann Arbor;

2) Chris Kolb, former Democratic state representative from Ann Arbor (53rd District);

3) Lynn Rivers, former Democratic congresswoman, who ran against Dingell in 2002.

  I know the three above are a little heavy on the western side of the district, but feel free to suggest others from Dearborn or wherever.

  Michigan doesn't need a rulebreaking early primary, it needs a reformed auto industry, and a serious turnover in its Democratic (and Republican) leaders. Unless you feel that Michigan Democratic leadership really is the best possible leadership available...