MassGOP sees ‘enormous opportunity’ to raise ranks
Republican strategists say they see “enormous opportunity” to raise their meager ranks in the State House through a redistricting effort that has redrawn boundaries along urban and suburban lines in an effort to boost the number of majority-minority districts.
“I think we are going to see a lot of change and if there’s one thing that can benefit the Republican Party, it’s a lot of change,” said Republican strategist Wendy Wakeman. “2022 is going to be a great year for us.”
L awmakers are in the midst of the decennial redistricting process and so far, they’ve set a different tone for a process that has long been shrouded in secrecy.
They sought to buck their reputation for closeddoor negotiations this year, favoring a public process complete with hearings.
Rather than focus on protecting incumbents and how to “concentrate their power,” Wakeman said lawmakers worked to forge more majority-minority districts based on recent U.S. Census data. The goal is to make Beacon Hill more representative over the next decade.
“I see enormous opportunity in these majorityminority districts,” Wakeman said, noting core Republican issues like freedom, economic opportunity and conservative social values “resonate” with minority and immigrant communities.
The shifting boundary lines have also realigned many districts along urban and suburban borders — something GOP insiders say is typically good news for Republicans who earn more suburban votes.
GOP insiders said while Republicans are likely to lose their “stronghold” in the now-splintered 4th Essex district, which was held by former Assistant Minority Leader Rep. Bradford Hill since 1999,
others have been made more competitive in their favor.
Just 29 of the 160 seats in the House of Representatives are held by GOP members. The margins are even more pronounced on the state Senate side, where just three of the 40 members are declared Republicans.
The party is totally devoid of representation within the federal delegation. All nine members of Congress and both senators are Democrats.
Wakeman and other Republicans including Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, R- Gloucester, said it remains to be seen what effect — if any — the changing boundary lines will have on the party’s dwindling ranks on both sides of the State House, but remain optimistic.
“Generally these changes could be positive for in
creasing the GOP numbers in the State House. These changes could make more seats competitive,” Tarr said, declining to get into specifics.
The state Senate is slated to vote on their district maps today, which will double the number of majority-minority districts for a total of six. The House last week finalized its new maps in a vote that boosted the number of majorityminority districts from 20 to 33.
Lawmakers are scrambling to get the new districts approved by both chambers and signed by the governor by Nov. 8 which would give potential candidates a full year of residency in their district, which is required to run.
Congressional districts, which don’t have residency deadlines like those for state candidates, will be redrawn later.