What Redistricting Looks Like In Every State

With block-level data from the 2020 census delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, we are just now starting to see states release first drafts of their congressional maps. So far, nine states have released proposed maps, and they are all at different stages in the process. Colorado is probably furthest along, with the state’s new independent commission having honed their initial proposal twice now as it approaches the Oct. 1 deadline to submit a map to the state Supreme Court. Meanwhile, proposed maps in Maryland, New York and perhaps Iowa are likely dead on arrival, as they were drawn by advisory commissions that those state’s legislatures are free to ignore if they want to (and, with control of the House on the line, they will probably want to).

We also got our first drama of the cycle in Oregon, where Democratic legislators have reneged on a deal to give Republicans a seat at the redistricting table in an effort to pass through a map that disproportionately favors the Democratic Party. As of Sept. 21, it’s unclear whether Republicans will stage a walkout of the legislature in order to block the map’s passage. The incident is notable because it shows that Democrats may be increasingly willing to play hardball to get the maps they want — perhaps because they are at such a steep disadvantage in the redistricting process overall. The GOP enjoys sole authority over the redistricting of 187 House seats to Democrats’ 75.