Finagling the lines

My latest op-ed appeared in Wednesday’s Virginian-Pilot with the above title. As I’m sure you can guess, the topic was that of redistricting, one which is pretty important to me. There have been a number of editorials written recently about redistricting – and I’m sure there will be many more in the coming months. We will have partisan redistricting in Virginia once again: the Republicans will be drawing the House lines and the Democrats will be drawing the Senate lines, each, no doubt, to their own party’s advantage.

In other words, the legislators will be choosing their own voters.

Where things are going to be bipartisan is in the drawing of Congressional lines. My guess is a lot is going to ride on the results of November’s elections. Currently, the Democrats occupy six of the 11 Congressional seats in Virginia. If the Republicans pick up two seats – a real possibility at this point – they will have a majority and combined with the Republican House and Governor, I would expect that whatever changes they would like to make to lines will happen. For that matter, even if they don’t pick up the seats whatever the lines the Republicans want will probably be enacted.

I really didn’t expect Governor McDonnell to keep his campaign promise on redistricting reform but that doesn’t make me any less disappointed in his failure to do so. Virginia will live another 10 years with the lines that will be released in 2011. And that’s a shame.

To follow the redistricting process, please visit the state’s website.