Several conversations that I have had over the last few days made me realize that some people may be unaware of the implications of Democratic control of the General Assembly. Perhaps it is because we have so many transplants from other areas that I often run into people that know a lot more about national politics than local politics. But all politics is local, and understanding that is the primary motivation behind why I started this blog.
The 21/51 campaign can be summed up in one word: Redistricting.
In Virginia, the legislature controls the redistricting process, including that of the drawing of Congressional districts. At this time, redistricting is done every ten years after the completion of the census, with the party in charge ultimately making the decision. Efforts to change the process have been met with resistance [1, 2, 3]. The net result is that many districts end up being noncompetitive. The packing of a large number of one party’s voters into one district, while leaving surrounding districts marginally supportive of the other party, generally winds up with the second party picking up seats.
We saw this when the Republicans took control of the legislature and the resulting redistricting in 2001. But don’t get me wrong – it’s not just a Republican thing. Prior to that, the Democrats did the same thing. When districts are drawn with an eye towards maintaining political power, the only way that gains by the party out of power can be made is by demographical shifts in the population. We are seeing that in NoVA, and that is why so many of the races there are considered competitive.
The process of drawing districts should be a non-partisan – or at least, a bipartisan – one. The current crop of Republicans in the House of Delegates makes that impossible. With the retirement – and defeat – of some moderate Republicans in the state Senate, I don’t know that legislation like SJR352 could even get through the Senate again. So the only answer is give Democrats control of the legislature by electing them.
The Senate elections of 2007 are critical, as this represents the last opportunity to gain control of that body prior to the 2011 redistricting. Since House elections are held every two years, should the Democrats fail to gain control this year, we will be given another chance in 2009. Of course, gaining control of the House this election cycle would be the icing on the cake.
Democrats in control of the legislature by 2011 is the only hope we have as citizens, as voters, as participants in society, to have the people put first.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
“The process of drawing districts should be a non-partisan – or at least, a bipartisan – one.”
“So the only answer is give Democrats control of the legislature….”
Please. You don’t really believe that the Democrats will make the process non-partisan, do you?
Yes, I do. And I, for one, will hold them accountable if they don’t. And so should everyone else.
Indeed. I’d very much like to see redistricting put in the hands of a couple of cartographers and mathematicians. Preferably ones who who’ve never much liked politics.
Why do you think that? They did not do it when they controlled the legislature in the past. Why would they do it in the future?
Because I understand it is something that the party wants to do. The players from when the Democrats were last in charge in the legislature have changed. I have no reason to doubt this group.
Your naivete is so cute.