Why is Louisiana protecting the gerrymandered 2nd district?

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This is clearly illegal.

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Its only illegal if they say its because of race. As long as they say its based on party, and no one puts race into the record as a reason, its legal.

Which is absolutely retarded, but that's basically how it is.

The LA Legislature doesn't have the stones to withstand the absolute tantrum that would be thrown if they drew a map that made sense.

I think they are trying to save Steve Scalise's seat and and the majority of Jefferson Parish by not roping them in with New Orleans. I also think they were trying to throw a bone to the Democrats by trying not to seem "racist". They could totally make the whole state red, but there's enough Democrats registered in the state they would risk turning more than one seat blue if they didn't make at least 1 majority blue district with the combined BR & Nola district.

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Serious question since that seems to be where we are headed. That thing looks like it plucks only certain voters from New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Donaldsonville, and runs along the center of the river to do it.

This is clearly illegal.

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Because the last republican to hold the seat voted FOR Obamacare. That district is not going to elect anyone worth a damn. Let the dems have it.

Longstanding tradition since Hale Boggs.

Because doing so helps secure districts for the current Republican Congressmen, or those currently in the Legislature thinking of a future run.

When you gerrymander a district to be extremely heavy on the minority demographic and precincts that vote heavy blue, you the remaining districts will have more red voter concentration, especially in a state like Louisiana.

Louisiana Republican insiders and lawmakers want that 2nd district as blue as they can make it. You concede that one district in exchange for the other five being slanted very heavily in favor of the GOP candidate.

“Now just think how many republicans in New Orleans are like me and would LOVE to FINALLY have a choice worth voting for.”

I hear you, but there’s no way to do this without putting at least one, maybe two seats at risk. If you’re trying to be ruthlessly partisan—and both parties are right now—you also have to make sure you don’t overreach. Do you want 5-1 guaranteed or a hopeful 6-0 that could become 4-2 bc you have spread more Democratic voters around instead of concentrating them into the one solidly Democratic district? It’s a reasonable choice either way in my opinion.

One simple reason: the incumbent representatives want to stay in office. Modifying their districts decreases their chances of keeping their job

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I hear you, but there’s no way to do this without putting at least one, maybe two seats at risk. I

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Negative. 5 safe seats and one purple seat in Orleans, St. Tammany, St. Bernard, Plaq., and lower jefferson.

I made this one in ten minutes:




The "blue" district is 49% D to 47.7% R.

All the remainders are safe red, with the "purple" district having the lowest GOP percentage at 58% R to 39% D.

Thanks, I edited to add the map.

Option 1 - legislature draws a map that ropes Orleans Parish and the heavily democrat areas of Baton Rouge all into one solidly blue district, which then leaves 5 solid red districts. Guaranteed 5-1 map

Option 2 - legislature draws a map that could result in a 6-0 sweep, but it would come at the expense of turning at least 2 districts somewhat purple. So its possible you could get a 6-0 result, but its also possible that Democrats could win more than just 1 seat.

The legislature chose the guaranteed 5-1 map instead of getting greedy and risking possibly ending up 4-2 or even 3-3