Indiana redistricting plan shores up suburban district for GOP

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A Republican redistricting plan shores up a suburban Indianapolis district for the GOP while leaving a potentially targeted Democratic district in northwestern Indiana intact.

The proposal for new congressional districts released Tuesday shifts the northern tier of Democratic-leaning Marion County from the district now held by Republican Rep. Victora Spartz to that of Indianapolis Democratic Rep. Andre Carson.

That move will boost Spartz as she lost badly in Marion County in last year’s election even as she won by an overall 50%-46% margin over Democratic candidate Christina Hale.

Other changes among Indiana’s nine congressional districts to account for population shifts don’t appear likely to shift the 7-2 control that Republicans now hold on those seats.

The Republican plan leaves intact the northwestern Indiana district that includes industry-heavy Lake County and has long been a Democratic stronghold. The proposed district along Lake Michigan wouldn’t change much from the one Democratic Rep. Frank Mrvan won last year.

Republicans have full control Indiana’s redistricting process through their dominance of the state Legislature.

IBJ will have a update on the redistricting maps later Tuesday.

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5 thoughts on “Indiana redistricting plan shores up suburban district for GOP

  1. Communicates of interest? Ha.

    Avon, Roselawn, Lafayette, and Martinsville in the same congressional district.

    (Parts of) Beech Grove and Richmond.

    Carmel and Marion.

    If you live a suburb, or the southern third of Marion County, your congressional vote just got cancelled out.

    It should be illegal in Indiana to allow for election results or voter registration data to be used when drawing maps.

  2. Maps in pdf? How can a statistical analysis be performed prior to the hearings tomorrow and Thursday? Oh, that must be the point. Push everything through so fast that it can’t be properly assessed before the supermajority voted to confirm the districts that keep them in safe and protected.

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