Redistricting in America

Oregon legislative leaders reached agreement Tuesday on a congressional redistricting plan after both of the major political parties made concessions. The new plan puts the Legislature on track to redraw the boundaries of the state's five congressional districts for the first time since 1981.  In the last two decades, the courts stepped in to approve new boundary lines after legislators failed to complete the task.

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All four House members currently representing parts of Western New York might survive the upcoming elimination of two of the state's 29 congressional districts -- even though, starting in 2013, Erie County is likely to be represented by only two members, down from three today. That's the evolving conventional wisdom after two recent events turned the politics of redistricting upside down.

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North Carolina Democrats largely survived the carnage of the midterms — eluding the fate that claimed many of their Southern colleagues. But the redistricting nightmare they now face will be harder to escape.With North Carolina Republicans slated to unveil a new congressional map this week, Democrats are bracing for a buzzsaw. Party officials sullenly concede that as many as three Democratic incumbents could be imperiled and that there is little they can do to stop it.

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Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) has signed into law the state's controversial map of newly reapportioned congressional districts. Republicans have criticized the map, which pits several GOP lawmakers against one another, announced they will sue.Democrats control the redistricting process in the state, which is losing one House seat next year, and the map they drew is seen as benefiting their party. They could pick up five or six seats if the map stands, which would help them recover from the four seats Republicans gained in President Obama's home state last cycle.

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The state Senate today passed a plan to remap Michigan's House and Senate districts with some Democrats siding with Republicans after changes were made in Wayne County districts. Senate Republicans rejected a statewide redistricting plan offered by Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing. Several Detroit Democrats voted in favor of passage after the Wayne County portion of the Democratic plan was adopted as an amendment offered by Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville of Monroe.