The 2012 congressional elections are more than 10 months away, but some key votes already have been cast — and not by the electorate.
Judges, rather, are playing major roles in reshaping the House landscape this election cycle, as the courts in many states have ruled — or soon will — on disputed redistricting maps in several battleground states.
Democrats have won early-round court battles in Texas and California regarding congressional redistricting — a process conducted every 10 years based on census data that reflect changes in population. With more cases pending or expected in those and other key states such as Florida and New York, the party is in a good position to chip away at the Republicans’ 50-seat advantage in the House.
Political analysts say Republicans still aren’t in danger of losing control of the House, which they wrested from Democrats with the 2010 elections.
“Even though we’re still in the redistricting process, it looks like Democrats will gain House seats — just not the 25 they need in order to win the majority,” said Nathan L. Gonzales, deputy editor of the Rothenberg Political Report.
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Redistricting is a BIG scam. Population densities change. So do cultural bases and ideas. BUT, that doesn't mean Congressmen get to keep their jobs by altering (in some VERY convoluted ways) the district they are in, in order to make it easy (wow, I wonder WHO wrote these rules?) for them to keep their jobs. If your district changes in population or culture, then maybe the voters in that district don't want YOU anymore. Tough break. I can't readily think of another system in which the participants get to change the rules every once in a while to make it easier for them to keep their cushy jobs.
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