Redistricting News & Analysis

Guarded Prospects for Southern Democrats, Northeast Republicans

by Stuart Rothenberg May 9, 2012 · 10:03 AM EDT

It looks as if there will be no rest for the weary, at least for Democratic House candidates in the South. Heading into November’s elections, except for a handful of races, Democratic opportunities in the region continue to be limited to districts that are heavily populated by minorities.

California House: Shifting Landscape

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 4, 2012 · 1:30 PM EDT

California’s new citizen redistricting commission rocked the congressional delegation, leaving incumbents with tough choices, and in some cases, no natural district to run in. But that’s not the only change in the nation’s most populous state. California now has a top two jungle primary, which throws an obstacle into…

Texas 23: The Only Game in Town

by Jessica Taylor May 4, 2012 · 1:29 PM EDT

The race to knock off Rep. Quico Canseco (R) will likely be the only competitive general election contest in the Lone Star State -- but Democrats must first pick their standard bearer to take on the freshman Republican.

After a series of legal battles, a new…

Texas House: Wide Open Spaces

by Jessica Taylor May 4, 2012 · 1:27 PM EDT

They say everything’s bigger in Texas -- including the field of candidates in new and open seat races this cycle.


Redistricting -- after several iterations of maps after court challenges -- created four new seats in the Lone Star State. None of these new districts is…

Texas House: Incumbents Beware?

by Jessica Taylor May 4, 2012 · 1:26 PM EDT

With terrible job approval ratings, redistricting, and outside spending, congressional incumbents are under the microscope. And after reading the headlines and seeing the anti-incumbent narrative reach a fever pitch on cable news channels, some Members of the Texas delegation are taking their primaries more seriously than ever before.

Pennsylvania: Critz Defeats Colleague, Faces Competitive General Election

by Jessica Taylor April 25, 2012 · 2:15 PM EDT

Two moderate Democrats from Pennsylvania won’t be returning to Congress next year after Tuesday’s primaries in the Keystone State -- but only one can blame the new make-up of his district for his loss.

In western Pennsylvania’s 12th District, Rep. Mark Critz pulled off an upset in his…

Utah: Senate Race Still Kicking but 4th District Set for Premiere Battle

by Nathan L. Gonzales April 25, 2012 · 2:14 PM EDT

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R) is on quite a roller coaster ride. The senior senator went from the brink of electoral extinction to coming oh-so-close to securing the GOP nomination without even having to hassle with a primary. Now he’s back in a competitive race for reelection.

After seeing…

Kentucky House: Republicans Battle to Replace Davis

by Nathan L. Gonzales April 20, 2012 · 11:57 AM EDT

Rep. Geoff Davis caught many of his fellow Republicans off-guard when he decided not to seek reelection to a fifth term, but Davis leaves behind one of the most Republican seats in Kentucky. Since his 4th District seat isn’t vulnerable to a Democratic takeover, the May 22 winner-take-all primary…

Arkansas House: Razorback Red

by Nathan L. Gonzales April 20, 2012 · 11:55 AM EDT

With control of the governorship and the Legislature, Democrats were in prime position to take back at least a couple of seats they lost in 2010 in Arkansas.

But local Democratic cartographers didn’t see eye to eye with Democratic strategists in D.C. and drew a map that could…

House Battleground Comes Into Focus

by Stuart Rothenberg April 6, 2012 · 3:00 PM EDT

While President Obama’s numbers have strengthened in some polls, the public’s mood has brightened a bit, and Democratic prospects in the Senate certainly have improved, Democrats still face a difficult task in their effort to net 25 seats and take back the House of Representatives.

Redistricting has been…