New districts but same old political battles

The old Congressional boundaries favoted Republicans. The new ones favor Democrats. Bring on the lawyers.

You can kiss “Goofy Kicking Donald Duck” goodbye.

And while you’re at it, you can say farewell to the 7th District as well.

Welcome to the 5th District, Delaware County. And 4th District, Montgomery County, and 9th District, northern Berks. Chester County and southern Berks, you’ve already met the 6th District.

These are the results of the new map of Pennsylvania’s Congressional Districts issued by the state Supreme Court Monday. Now bring on the lawyers. The new map is a result of both the state and U.S. Supreme Courts ruling that the map created by Republicans in the state Legislature back in 2011 was unconstitutional. The justices said it was a classic example of partisan gerrymandering, stacking the deck to favor one party’s candidates. Since Republicans controlled both the state House and Senate, it’s not surprising that their map fiercely protected incumbent GOP turf.

Nowhere was that more evident than the 7th District, which was twisted and bent into two non-contiguous large land masses, areas that greatly aided incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan. What routinely had been a tossup district suddenly became a Red lock, with Meehan cruising to three successive routs, routinely racking up 60 percent of the vote. So grotesque was the shape of the 7th that it earned that mocking tag of being reminiscent of “Goofy Kicking Donald Duck.”

Monday the justices kicked Goofy to the curb. And kicked the 7th District up to Bucks County in the process.

The state constitution mandates congressional districts be both “compact and contiguous” whenever possible.

The map released Monday by the Pennsylvania justices is a clear improvement over the GOP map of 2011 if for no other reason than that.

Back in 2011, Republicans in the Legislature split 28 counties in creating their map. The new one released by the high court Monday reduces that number to 13. Of those, nine counties are split in two, while another four are divided three ways. The 2011 map contorted the 7th District in a way that it covered residents in five different suburban counties.

That does not mean everyone is happy.

As you might expect, Republicans are crying foul. And vowing to challenge the map in court.

Not necessarily because most experts see the new map as benefitting Democrats, who have watched as Republicans retained control of 13 of the state’s 18 congressional seats despite a trend that has seen the state going Democratic in many statewide and national races.

Instead Republicans are vowing to challenge the new map on a constitutional basis. In a way, they are claiming a reverse gerrymander, arguing that the 5-2 Democratic majority on the state Supreme Court usurped a role that the constitution clearly defines as the work of the Legislature.

The high court made note of that in its ruling, saying that all sides had the opportunity to submit proposals and that the court drew heavily on those recommendations.

State Republican Party Chairman Val DiGiorgio of Chester County blasted the ruling, saying it set a “new standard of judicial activism, unquestionably is a violation of separation of powers, and is a sad day for the Commonwealth.”

Even President Trump weighed in yesterday, urging Republicans to challenge the new map in court.

The court has said it wants this new map in place for the May 15 primary. As part of its Monday order, the court also revised the calendar for candidates to gather signatures on their nominating petitions. Candidates now can gather signatures starting next Tuesday, Feb. 27, and running through March 20.

The 4th District, which now is comprised of most of Montgomery County, and the 9th District in northern and western Berks, are open seats. Chester County and a part of southeastern Berks is in the 6th District represented by incumbent Republican Ryan Costello.

Taking the map on its appearance, it’s a clear improvement over the old one. But the conflicts caused by shifting boundaries are not likely to go away.

Bring on the lawyers – and the candidates. This fight is not over.