Examples of rank partisanship in redistricting maps

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon
OregonWatchdog.com

In state legislative redistricting, Democrats achieve three major objectives: strengthen districts, cut out competition and empowers cities with greatwer representation than rural areas.  This is a recipe for tearing Oregonians further apart by political party and by location.

In all three major metro areas (Portland, Salem, Eugene), Democrats consolidated/concentrated districts to focus on likely D voters and cut out competition. Plus, districts are realigned and renumbered.

Case study: Senate Districts 11 and 13. Currently, Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer) represents SD 13 (comprised of HDs 25 and 26), a fairly solid Republican district. The D proposal removes Keizer and Newberg and links HD 26 (Wilsonville, Tualatin) with Tigard and Southwest Portland into a new SD 13. The southern part of old SD 13 (Keizer) is linked with downtown Salem forming a new D-dominated HD 19 (note on that below). It joins Woodburn/North Salem and becomes part of Senate President Peter Courtney’s SD 11 – a strong Democrat home. Thatcher must now run in a district antagonistic to Republicans.

Other notables: Rep. Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles) is placed into Rep. Anna Williams’ new HD 52; Rep. Raquel Moore-Green (R-Salem) is placed into a new HD 19 that includes Brian Clem (D-Salem, old HD 21); and, Rep. Marty Wilde (D-Central Lane/Linn Counties) joins Rep. Cedric Hayden (R-Roseburg) in a new HD 12 (formerly HD 7).

The new Democrat proposal moves more districts into major metro areas, taking advantage of higher Democrat registration and moving swing or Republican voters into non-threatening districts. And as shown, certain districts are moved and renumbered to accommodate a well-executed consolidation and concentration of Democrat power.

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